iPhone 18 prices expected to rise by $50, report

Apple CEO Tim Cook stated in early June 2026 that the company would be increasing the prices of its iPhones. According to Cook, the price hike is unavoidable due to a shortage in the supply of memory (RAM). However, he did not specify how much the prices of the iPhone 18 series would increase.

The growing construction of AI data centers worldwide has led to shortages of memory and storage chips prompting manufacturers to raise prices. A new report has now shed light on the expected pricing of the iPhone 18 lineup.

According to a JPMorgan analyst, Apple is likely to raise prices by less than previously expected. The report suggests that each iPhone 18 model will cost only $50 more than its predecessor. Apple is also expected to offset rising component costs through other measures such as using its own C-series modems. Based on these estimates:

• iPhone 18 Pro is expected to start at $1,149 up from $1,099.
• iPhone 18 Pro Max is expected to start at $1,249 up from $1,199.

Earlier reports had suggested that prices could increase by as much as $200 compared with the iPhone 17 series. Apple remains one of the world’s largest buyers of memory chips but demand from artificial intelligence companies has also surged putting additional pressure on the supply chain.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the memory and storage components used in the iPhone 18 Pro could cost Apple around $150 more per device than those used in the iPhone 17 Pro. The report also notes that Apple is expected to change its iPhone launch strategy this year.

The iPhone 18 Pro models are likely to be unveiled in September alongside Apple’s first foldable iPhone. Meanwhile, the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone Air 2 are expected to be introduced sometime in early 2027.