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Apple plans iPhone 18 price hikes amid AI chip costs

9/7/2026

19 1 Full Breakdown

Summary

Apple Raises iPhone Prices

Apple will raise iPhone 18 prices as AI-driven component costs surge.
Analysts project iPhone 18 models will cost $100-$300 more, a 10-20% increase over 2025 versions.
A memory-chip shortage driven by AI data-center demand from Microsoft, Amazon, Google and Meta fuels the price rise.
The iPhone 18 Pro will feature Apple’s A20 Pro chip built on TSMC’s 2-nm process.

Summary

Apple Swaps FaceID

Apple will replace Face ID with Touch ID on the foldable iPhone Ultra because of its slimmer design.
The foldable’s hinge will use liquid metal and dual-layer ultra-thin glass to reduce visible crease.
Regulatory filings show the iPhone 18 Pro will contain a 4,288 mAh battery and the Pro Max 5,567 mAh.
Leakers say a variable-aperture camera could appear on the iPhone 18 Pro Max for improved low-light performance.

History

Historical Context

Apple unveiled the first iPhone on Jan 9 2007 at Macworld, launching June 29 2007 with a $499 price and a multi-touch design that broke the button-heavy smartphone norm. The device sparked the shift to touchscreen phones, created the App Store in 2008, and established a premium pricing model that still drives today’s higher-priced iPhone 18.

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Apple Raises iPhone Prices

Apple will raise iPhone 18 prices as AI-driven component costs surge.
Analysts project iPhone 18 models will cost $100-$300 more, a 10-20% increase over 2025 versions.
A memory-chip shortage driven by AI data-center demand from Microsoft, Amazon, Google and Meta fuels the price rise.
The iPhone 18 Pro will feature Apple’s A20 Pro chip built on TSMC’s 2-nm process.

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