iPhone 18 Pro memory costs could quadruple, making a price hike likely

Apple’s next Pro iPhone could become noticeably more expensive as memory costs surge. TrendForce estimates that the memory procurement cost for the 256GB iPhone 18 Pro will rise by nearly 400% from a year earlier in the third quarter of 2026.

The company is expected to introduce the iPhone 18 Pro series at its fall event on Sept. 10. Apple has already raised prices on many of its products this year, but left its current iPhone lineup unchanged. Market expectations now point to a price adjustment when the new phones arrive, with the iPhone 18 Pro’s starting price forecast to increase by about $100 compared with the iPhone 17 Pro.

Apple is reportedly trying to reduce the prices of other components, but TrendForce says those savings may not fully offset pressure on the overall bill of materials. The research firm does not expect Apple to pass the entire memory increase to customers, since a steep price rise could reduce upgrade frequency and weigh on overall growth.

Instead, Apple may depend more on its Services business to offset weaker hardware margins. TrendForce also forecasts that Apple’s first foldable model, referred to as the iPhone Ultra, could start at up to $2,299, with its highest-end version potentially exceeding $3,000.