Overview
- TrendForce published an analysis on Monday that estimates the bill of materials for the 256GB iPhone 18 Pro is roughly 38 percent higher than the iPhone 17 Pro because memory costs have jumped sharply.
- The research says DRAM will account for about 34 percent of the iPhone 18 Pro’s component cost in Q3 2026 and is projected to exceed 40 percent in the first half of 2027, while display and processor shares shrink.
- Industry analysts say the higher component bill makes higher retail prices likely but expect Apple may absorb part of the increase, raise prices on older iPhone models, or stagger launches to protect shipment volumes.
- A Weibo tipster posted an unconfirmed claim that Apple could raise iPhone 17 prices on August 10, and current regional discounts in India would be vulnerable if Apple acts, but that report has not been verified.
- DRAM shortages and new A20 Pro chip packaging that integrates memory at wafer or package stage are creating supply risk and have reportedly led to scaled‑back capacity plans, which could tighten near‑term availability.