Apple is usually quite consistent with iPhone prices, but new rumors indicate that this may change with the iPhone 18 line.
iPhone 18 prices: this is how expensive the next iPhone will be
The latest rumor about iPhone 18 prices comes from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. He recently posted his expectations X and they are surprisingly positive. He says, among other things:
“Apple’s current plan for 2H26 new iPhone 18 models is to avoid raising prices as much as possible—at least keep the starting price flat, which is helpful for marketing.”
“Apple’s current plan for the new iPhone 18 models in the second half of 2026 is to avoid price increases as much as possible – at least to keep the starting price the same, which is good for marketing.”
More expensive chip and working memory
Kuo’s comments are part of a longer post in which he responds to claims that Apple’s RAM (LPDDR) costs will increase significantly. Several reports have also appeared indicating that the production of the A20 chip is considerably more expensive than normal. This is due to the increasing demand for GPUs at chip manufacturer TSMC, caused by the growth of AI. Due to this increase in the number of new customers, TSMC is faced with production limitations. As a result, Apple has to pay higher prices to secure the capacity it needs.
All these reports have led many people to think that the prices of the iPhone 18 may be considerably higher. Kuo’s more modest expectations are therefore a welcome development.
Based on his years of analyzing Apple’s supply chain, Kuo believes the company’s strategy will be to use the market chaos to their advantage: secure chips, absorb costs and capture more market share. Kuo believes that Apple will compensate for any setbacks later in the field of services.
Of course, a lot can still change between now and September, but hopefully Kuo’s expectations turn out to be correct and the prices of the iPhone 18 will not or hardly increase this year. Do you want to be sure you don’t miss anything about it? Then sign up for our newsletter and we will automatically keep you informed from now on!