Buyers hoping to upgrade to the newest iPhone flagship this fall might want to start saving a bit more money right now. A well-known tech analyst predicts that the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and its larger Pro Max sibling could launch with a much higher price tag than last year. These upcoming models might see a jump of up to $300 compared to the current lineup, pushing base prices well past previous records.
Higher part costs force a major price hike for new models
The main reason for this massive jump comes down to the internal parts getting much more expensive. Analyst Jeff Pu from GF Securities notes that the new 2nm silicon chips and memory components are driving up the final retail price. A lot of this traces back to companies building out massive artificial intelligence systems, which is currently causing a global shortage of essential tech components.
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Right now, the Pro models start at $1,099 and $1,199. If this $250 to $300 increase actually happens, it will be a huge leap for Apple buyers. The company already raised prices on iPads, Macs, and other devices back in June, but left phones alone at the time. Pu believes this steep cost increase could make buyers hesitate, and he recently downgraded his stock rating for the company as a result.
The tech giant is expected to reveal the iPhone 18 Pro lineup this September, alongside a highly anticipated foldable model that could cost more than $2,000. Outgoing CEO Tim Cook did not confirm any price changes during a recent earnings call. With the launch event just weeks away, shoppers will soon find out if the hardware upgrades are truly worth the heavier hit to their wallets.
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