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iPhone 18 Pro Costing Apple 38% More to Make, TrendForce Estimates
According to TrendForce, Apple's iPhone 18 Pro's build costs are estimated to be 38% higher than the iPhone 17 Pro, primarily due to skyrocketing memory prices, which now account for around 34% of total costs. This increase will necessitate higher retail prices for consumers. Apple may mitigate impacts on customer perception by managing gross margins like it has with its MacBook launches, and potentially raising prices on older models as well.
MonitorConfidence: HighShort term horizon
Published 10 Aug 2026, 10:45 UTC2 min read
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Summary
TL;DR
- iPhone 18 Pro costs nearly 40% more to manufacture than predecessor.
- Memory prices have risen five to sevenfold since early 2025.
- Apple may raise prices on older iPhones alongside new models.
- The iPhone lineup previously avoided price hikes in June.
- TrendForce expects Android vendors to face steeper price increases.
Interesting facts
- Memory now constitutes 34% of the production cost versus 10% a year prior.
- Apple's strategy may involve sacrificing some profit margins to maintain sales volume.