Apple’s next flagship iPhone could come with a much higher price tag than previous generations. A new estimate suggests the iPhone 18 Pro could start at $1,399 in the U.S., representing a potential $300 increase over the current iPhone 17 Pro.
The estimate comes shortly after Apple CEO Tim Cook acknowledged that the company is facing rising memory costs due to an ongoing global shortage. While Apple has not confirmed any price increases for upcoming products, analysts believe higher component costs and new hardware upgrades could force the company to charge more for its next Pro iPhone.
According to research from TechInsights, the cost of DRAM and NAND flash storage is expected to rise significantly this year as AI data centers compete with consumer electronics manufacturers for the same components. Memory suppliers such as Samsung and Micron have reportedly shifted more production toward enterprise-grade AI hardware, tightening supply for smartphones.
TechInsights estimates Apple paid around $39 for the 12GB of DRAM used in the iPhone 17 Pro. For the iPhone 18 Pro, that figure could rise to approximately $145. Storage costs are also expected to increase, with 256GB of flash storage potentially jumping from around $13 to $51.
As a result, the estimated manufacturing cost of the base iPhone 18 Pro could climb to roughly $726, compared to about $582 for the iPhone 17 Pro. If Apple were to maintain the same gross margin as the current model, analysts estimate the company would need to charge around $1,371.
A starting price of $1,299 has also been suggested as a possibility, but additional hardware upgrades could push the final figure higher. One of the biggest rumored changes is a new variable-aperture camera system, which supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has previously said could cost substantially more than the current camera setup.
If those additional expenses are factored in, some estimates place the starting price of the iPhone 18 Pro at approximately $1,399.
The higher price could be accompanied by several notable upgrades. Rumors suggest Apple is preparing a significantly smaller Dynamic Island for the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, potentially reducing its size by nearly half compared to the iPhone 17 Pro. The devices are also expected to feature Apple’s new A20 Pro chip built on a 2nm process, which should deliver improvements in both performance and power efficiency.
Other rumored upgrades include LTPO+ display technology, a new M16 OLED display material, Apple’s second-generation C2 modem, and enhanced wireless connectivity. The devices are also expected to launch with iOS 27, bringing Apple’s new Siri AI experience and broader Apple Intelligence integrations.
If the estimate proves accurate, the iPhone 18 Pro would become one of the most expensive Pro iPhones Apple has ever released. The iPhone 18 Pro Max would likely remain $100 more expensive than the Pro model, potentially pushing its starting price to $1,499.
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 lineup in September. Until then, the reported pricing remains an estimate based on projected component costs and rumored hardware changes rather than confirmed retail pricing.
