iPhone 18 Pro May See $300 Price Hike Due to AI Chip Demand

The upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models may see a price increase of between $250 and $300 compared to current models, according to analyst Jeff Pu from investment firm GF Securities. This projection was reported by MacRumors and AP News. The primary reason for the potential price hike is the significant rise in the cost of manufacturing 2nm chips and DRAM and NAND memory. Demand for chips for AI technology is rapidly increasing worldwide, leading to a shortage of semiconductors for electronic devices. Currently, the iPhone 17 Pro starts at $1,099, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max starts at $1,199. If this forecast materializes, the iPhone 18 Pro series could experience a substantial price jump. Analysts have stated that massive investments in AI infrastructure are utilizing a large portion of the world's chip manufacturing capacity, causing scarcity for chips and memory for consumer electronics. Last month, Apple also increased prices for some Mac and iPad models, citing memory shortages driven by AI advancements as a major challenge for the electronics industry. While Apple has not officially announced any price increases for the iPhone, many analysts believe prices could rise this year if production costs continue to escalate. The iPhone 18 Pro Series is expected to be unveiled by Apple in September, along with the company's first foldable iPhone, which is anticipated to cost over $2,000. The iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, and iPhone Air 2 are expected to be released in the spring of 2027.