An iPhone 18 price rise is widely expected in 2026, as Apple looks to absorb the growing cost of memory components across its product range. While the company has so far left iPhone pricing untouched, the premium handsets due later in the year are almost certain to carry higher price tags.
Apple has already increased prices on several product lines to compensate for an AI-induced RAM shortage. Macs and iPads have both seen adjustments, alongside the Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro and other hardware. The iPhone stands out as the one major category that has, until now, escaped a price increase.
Why the iPhone 17 held its price
Pricing has not moved across the iPhone 17 lineup, keeping the range in line with previous generations. That stability, however, is not expected to last. New premium devices arriving in September are anticipated to reflect the higher component costs currently affecting the wider industry.
The pressure stems largely from rising memory prices, driven by demand tied to artificial intelligence hardware. As RAM becomes more expensive to source, manufacturers across the sector face difficult decisions about whether to absorb the added expense or pass it on to customers.
What competitors might reveal about pricing
Industry watchers suggest that rival manufacturers could offer an early indication of where iPhone prices might settle. Pricing decisions made by competitors may hint at the scale of increases buyers can expect, particularly given the enormous volumes at which Apple sells its handsets.
The reasoning is straightforward. Because the iPhone ships in such large numbers, even a modest per-unit increase has a significant effect on Apple’s overall costs and revenue. A rise of around £75 per device has been floated as a figure that could be sufficient to offset the additional expense.
There is no confirmed detail on Apple’s actual plans, and any figures remain speculative. What is clear is that the iPhone has been the sole exception to the recent wave of increases, and the launch of new premium models is expected to bring that period to an end.
Apple’s pricing strategy for its next flagship range remains unannounced, with the company yet to confirm the cost of the iPhone 18 series.
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Image: appleinsider.com
