The launch of the iPhone 18 Pro series and Apple's first foldable iPhone, expected in September, will come with significant price increases according to several well-known Chinese leakers. The rumors indicate that the new models will exceed initial estimates, with surcharges that could push the foldable beyond $3,000 in higher storage configurations. Apple's decision to raise prices comes after weeks of speculation about rising component costs, especially DRAM memory, and confirms a shift in strategy for the Cupertino company.
Fixed Focus Digital Predicts a Certain Price Hike for iPhone 18 Pro and Foldable
The leaker known as Fixed Focus Digital stated on Weibo that while current iPhone models have not seen a price increase, the iPhone 18 Pro models launching this fall will definitely see a price hike. He added that the foldable iPhone in particular could cost 10% to 20% more than originally predicted. This estimate aligns with reports from Bloomberg, which suggested the device could cross the $2,000 threshold, making it the most expensive iPhone Apple has ever sold, surpassing even the $1,999 iPhone 17 Pro Max in its 2TB configuration.
Sponsored Protocol
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo Confirms Prices Above $2,500 for the Foldable
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes the foldable's price will not be below $2,000 and could even exceed $2,500. Considering a further 10-20% increase speculated by leakers, the lowest starting price would climb well past the $2,099 mark, and a higher storage configuration could reach beyond $3,000. Digital Chat Station also said it is highly unlikely that the iPhone 18 Pro series avoids a price increase altogether. The leaker pointed out that the iPhone 17 Pro's starting price in China was 8,999 yuan and suggested Apple could push the iPhone 18 Pro to 9,999 yuan to protect margins, bringing the entire September lineup to 10,000 yuan or more, an increase of roughly 11% over the previous model. Apple has historically kept its Chinese and U.S. starting prices roughly proportional, so an 11% increase applied to the iPhone 17 Pro's $1,099 U.S. starting price would put the iPhone 18 Pro at around $1,220.
Sponsored Protocol
Instant Digital Floats Up to 20% Increases for iPhone 18 Pro Max
Another leaker, Instant Digital, floated an even steeper number, suggesting the 256GB iPhone 18 Pro Max could start at 10,999 or even 11,499 yuan, calling it an expensive price point for a non-foldable phone. At that level, the price would be 15% to 20% above the current iPhone 17 Pro Max's 9,999 yuan starting price. If mirrored in the U.S., the 256GB model's starting price would land somewhere between $1,300 and $1,400, up from $1,199 today. These leaker estimates echo a wave of recent reporting on the rising cost of building the iPhone 18 Pro. Research firm TechInsights estimates Apple paid around $39 for the 12GB of DRAM in the iPhone 17 Pro, a figure that could climb to $145 in the iPhone 18 Pro, pushing the total bill of materials up by roughly 25%. To maintain its current profit margin, the Wall Street Journal estimates a starting price of $1,399 or higher, once a pricier new camera system is factored in.
Sponsored Protocol
The Price Increases Follow Apple's Decision to Raise Prices on Most Devices
The latest rumors follow Apple's decision to raise prices on most of its devices this week, with the exception of iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch. CEO Tim Cook confirmed that the increases were unavoidable, citing the soaring cost of memory and storage chips as a hundred year flood. Apple has historically absorbed component cost swings rather than passing them on to customers, making this round of increases a notable shift in approach. For more context on the memory cost crisis, see our article on Micron's allegations against Apple. Also, check out the technical specifications of the iPhone 18 series in our article on the 9GB RAM and A20 chip.
Source: https://www.macrumors.com/2026/06/26/iphone-18-pro-and-foldable-to-get-price-hikes
