Overview
- Multiple reports say Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and a likely foldable iPhone (nicknamed Ultra) at a September event with pre-orders soon after and retail availability around the week of September 18.
- Analysts estimate component inflation — notably for TSMC 2nm wafers, DRAM and NAND — could raise Pro model prices by roughly $100 to $300 and put a potential starting price for a foldable at about $2,000.
- Apple’s CEO warned on the company’s recent earnings call that supply constraints are set to increase significantly, a statement reporters tie to limited early availability and possible staggered rollouts that prioritize premium models.
- Supply updates say foldable production scaling problems were reportedly resolved at the end of July but sources caution yield, hinge and panel availability could still restrict how many units reach stores.
- To blunt higher upfront costs Apple has launched an Apple Upgrade leasing program and is in talks with suppliers, while industry coverage links the price pressure to AI-driven memory demand and trade tensions that have tightened global DRAM and NAND supply.