With solely two months left till Apple unveils the brand new iPhone 18 sequence and different {hardware} at its September launch occasion, many are questioning how rather more the brand new gadgets will price in comparison with their predecessors. Apple has already raised costs throughout a variety of merchandise, together with iPads, Macs, and residential gadgets. In some instances, costs have elevated by 18 per cent to almost 33 per cent, largely as a result of world reminiscence scarcity as AI firms snapped up reminiscence provides for information centres.
Given the present scenario, analysts and business insiders imagine that the brand new iPhones launching this fall could price considerably extra. This might place an extra burden on customers’ pockets at a time when the price of residing stays excessive, inflation continues to weigh on family budgets, and job uncertainty within the AI period is making many individuals anxious.
Rising gadget costs and the prospect of a pointy improve in iPhone costs have sparked issues on-line that smartphones might take an excellent larger chunk out of customers’ budgets amid persistent inflation. In India, for instance, the place wage development has remained sluggish and youth unemployment stays excessive, shopping for an expensive iPhone might imply taking up a bigger EMI burden. All of this comes at a time when Apple has made deeper inroads into the Indian market and, after years of persistence, the iPhone has turn out to be the nation’s top-selling premium smartphone and gained market share.
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Whereas Apple doesn’t touch upon future pricing, a Counterpoint Analysis report estimates the invoice of supplies (BOM) for the upcoming iPhone 18 Professional Max might rise to $300 in comparison with the iPhone 17 Professional Max launched final yr. That’s roughly a Rs 28,717 value improve to fabricate the highest-end iPhone with 1TB of storage.
Rising NAND and DRAM reminiscence costs, together with the upper manufacturing prices of Apple’s next-generation 2nm chip and its superior packaging, are additionally anticipated to extend manufacturing prices. Digicam prices are anticipated to rise barely as Apple plans to introduce a brand new digicam expertise within the iPhone 18 Professional and Professional Max.
The iPhone Fold might standardise a widescreen foldable telephone.
Apple sometimes raises the costs of its merchandise solely beneath distinctive circumstances. When you’ve got been questioning why this might occur now, the AI growth is driving up the costs of on a regular basis devices. There’s no sugarcoating it: firms like Apple are prone to shield their revenue margins by finally passing the upper prices on to customers. Since iPhones are already priced at a premium, the continued reminiscence scarcity is prone to drive customers to pay much more.
RAM scarcity to proceed
Whereas synthetic intelligence was initially seen as a optimistic shift in productiveness, it’s now affecting numerous elements of each day life, from environmental issues, together with the consumption of billions of gallons of water and different pure assets, to the unfold of AI-generated content material on social media, declining incomes, and job cuts.
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The AI growth has additionally contributed to a scarcity of reminiscence utilized in smartphones and laptops, resulting in a pointy rise in RAM costs as memory-chip makers shift manufacturing towards extra worthwhile high-bandwidth reminiscence for AI information centres and away from consumer-grade DRAM. Based on Counterpoint Analysis, DRAM costs rose by 80 to 90 per cent in simply the primary six weeks of 2026. It’s subsequently unsurprising that DRAM costs are anticipated to leap by one other 50 per cent or extra in 2026, in keeping with market researcher TrendForce.
The scenario has reached a degree the place manufacturers are lowering manufacturing of low-end and price range smartphones and laptops. Extra firms are shifting their manufacturing priorities towards mid-range and high-end gadgets. Even the costs of premium smartphones and laptops are rising, and producers are prone to move alongside these larger prices to customers.
We have now already seen Apple elevate costs throughout a few of its merchandise just lately. Insiders anticipate one other steep spherical of value will increase for smartphones and laptops within the second half of the yr, with fewer reductions seemingly throughout the festive season.
Apple is rising the worth of MacBooks and iPads worldwide on account of rising reminiscence and storage chip prices. (Picture credit score: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Specific)
Don’t delay shopping for a brand new iPhone
With the reminiscence disaster anticipated to proceed till 2028, it might not make a lot sense to attend longer to purchase an iPhone when you’ve got already been holding off for a very long time. I wouldn’t anticipate the current-generation iPhone 17’s value to drop anytime quickly, even after the iPhone 18 launches. Consultants are already hinting at a attainable value improve for the iPhone 18, which might make it costlier than the iPhone 17.
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Nonetheless, when you’ve got been ready to improve to a regular iPhone mannequin, it’s price noting that Apple could not launch the iPhone 18 this yr, not like in earlier years. As a substitute, the corporate might launch the machine in spring 2027. Whereas that may be an uncommon transfer, it might additionally hold the iPhone 17 available on the market for longer.
…however what concerning the iPhone 18 Professional/Max?
Nicely, each the iPhone 18 Professional and iPhone 18 Professional Max are anticipated to launch this fall, however the brand new fashions are prone to have beginning costs which can be $200 (approx. Rs 19,148) larger than final yr’s fashions. In India, nevertheless, the iPhone 18 Professional fashions might price much more. In consequence, your month-to-month EMI funds might also improve considerably. Maintain that in thoughts earlier than getting too excited concerning the iPhone 18 Professional lineup.
I wouldn’t advocate shopping for the iPhone 17 Professional or iPhone 17 Professional Max now when you’ve got already determined to get the iPhone 18 Professional sequence.
Apple is reportedly contemplating a significant change to its iPhone launch technique, with premium iPhone 18 fashions and a foldable iPhone anticipated to take centre stage in 2026. (Picture: X/Saurav)
Pricier iPhone 18 Professional, iPhone Fold could hog the highlight
Regardless of the robust financial system, Apple’s September occasion is predicted to concentrate on pricier Professional fashions and a brand new ultra-high-end foldable iPhone. Maybe the technique is to focus on customers who’re already flush with money, particularly these working for new-age AI firms, influencers and content material creators. Excessive-end iPhones stay in demand as each extremely helpful gadgets and standing symbols.
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Clearly, Apple is trying to place the iPhone 18 Professional and Professional Max because the crème de la crème gadgets. Each fashions could function under-screen Face ID for the primary time, however the Dynamic Island is predicted to stay. The iPhone 18 Professional and iPhone 18 Professional Max are additionally anticipated to function a uniform rear design as an alternative of the two-tone look seen on the present iPhone 17 Professional fashions. The digicam lenses are anticipated to seem extra distinguished, whereas the Apple emblem might function a reflective end.
However Apple is wanting past the premium iPhone Professional sequence. For the primary time, the corporate could launch a foldable iPhone that would price over $2,000 (roughly Rs 200,000). Nonetheless, the machine could stay in restricted provide, making it extraordinarily tough for customers to get their palms on Apple’s first foldable iPhone.
The iPhone Fold, or no matter Apple could in the end name it, is predicted to function a 5.5-inch exterior show and a 7.8-inch inside show, which is barely smaller than the 8.3-inch iPad mini. It’s prone to have a sq. display when folded, making it significantly wider when unfolded. I anticipate it to look just like Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8 Extensive, which is about to launch early subsequent week at an occasion in London.
Apple used WWDC 2026 to showcase a revamped Siri and a broader AI technique targeted on sensible options built-in throughout its gadgets. (Picture: The Indian Specific/ Anuj Bhatia)
Widening earnings hole and rising price of residing
Hire, groceries, petrol, journey, and EMIs. In case you are a youngster working and residing in a metro metropolis, you’ve got seemingly seen numerous discussions on-line and on Reddit asking, “Why is every thing so costly?”
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Instances are robust for many individuals, particularly younger adults. Scholar mortgage debt is rising, and even getting a job after pursuing historically “protected” programs reminiscent of a BTech in Laptop Science or an MBA has turn out to be more and more difficult. The impression of inflation is actual, and components such because the US-Iran warfare and AI Growth have additional contributed to rising prices.
The query is whether or not customers will present curiosity in Apple’s costlier iPhone fashions, that are on account of launch later this yr. Certain, Apple has a robust pull, and many individuals are prepared to pay a premium for its merchandise. Nonetheless, rising inflation, hovering housing costs, hidden prices, stagnant wages, and a widening wage hole, notably affecting younger individuals, might make it harder for customers to justify spending extra on premium gadgets such because the iPhone on this financial system. In fact, EMIs and straightforward private loans have made iPhones “accessible” to hundreds of thousands of Indians.
However as the worldwide financial system takes form and AI quickly displaces white-collar jobs, one wonders whether or not customers will nonetheless have the identical urge for food for paying premium costs for high-end smartphones as they as soon as did. There’s a actual imbalance of energy, and customers are feeling a higher squeeze from rising rents, grocery payments, and the rising costs of on a regular basis devices.