Overview
- Apple is set to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro models and its first foldable at a Sept. 9 event, with multiple outlets reporting the company will prioritize Pro and foldable production over standard iPhones.
- Market research firm TrendForce estimates DRAM and NAND costs have surged — with memory for some 256GB Pro configurations up nearly 400% year‑over‑year — and projects U.S. iPhone 18 Pro prices could rise roughly $150–$200.
- Analysts say wafer‑level multi‑chip packaging used for Apple’s A20 Pro requires memory at packaging time, leaving about $1 billion of unpackaged processors at TSMC waiting on DRAM and risking constrained early inventory.
- Reports place the new foldable far above typical iPhone pricing, with TrendForce suggesting a $2,099–$2,299 start and IDC projecting an average selling price near $2,550 and strong revenue potential through 2027.
- Industry observers say Apple is negotiating with suppliers and may absorb some component cost increases to limit sticker shock, a choice that could protect demand but compress the company’s margins.