iPhone 18 Pro could end up with a brutal price hike after all

Few things in life are as certain as the rising prices of consumer tech devices, courtesy of the AI-powered memory cost crisis. While some may have hoped for Apple to keep the iPhone 18 Pro Max price bump low, a new estimate suggests that might not be the case, at all.

iPhone 18 Pro may cost an arm and a leg

Apple may raise the price of this year’s iPhone 18 Pro phones by up to $300, compared to the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. The reasons are the higher silicon and memory prices, which are haunting the tech industry.

The new estimate comes from an earnings note released by analyst Jeff Pu of GF Securities and reported by MacRumors. The analyst estimates that the hike is likely to end up north of $250, driven by Apple’s struggles to navigate the component shortages.

All hope is going away

While claims of iPhones getting significantly more expensive this fall are nothing new, this estimate is a little more disheartening than the usual. Back in February, Pu said that Apple was going to stick to the same $1,099 and $1,199 prices for the 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, respectively.

This idea was then reiterated by the analyst in his May note. He claimed Apple would employ an “aggressive pricing strategy,” at least for the base versions of its Pro models.

By shifting his tone about the potential prices of the new phones, Pu joins a growing list of analysts and leakers who believe we need to brace for a significant increase. That wouldn’t be shocking, considering that Apple already increased the prices of many of its products, including iPads, Macs, and the Apple Vision Pro. 

However, the company has spared the iPhone from any hikes, and it hasn’t given any signals about changing its tactics. Tim Cook didn’t comment on the topic during Apple’s Q3 earnings call this Thursday, so we may need to wait for the September premiere for official information.

It may not even be worth it

If this estimate is correct, the iPhone 18 Pro may start at $1,400, which would put it in a completely different category than the already high $1,099 price. Even with the expected upgrades, the price is almost certainly going to make fewer people rush to buy it.

Rumor has it that the new Pro phones will come with a noticeable battery upgrade and a smaller Dynamic Island. In terms of design, the most significant change would be the rumored Dark Cherry color, which could replace the Cosmic Orange shade of the 17 Pro as this year’s signature color.

You can also expect a variable aperture camera and an LTPO+ display. Both are fine upgrades, but it’s unlikely that many users would even notice them. That is probably going to be the case with the new Apple C2 modem, which is expected to be used in most markets outside the US.

Of course, the highlight will be the new Siri AI and the Apple Intelligence upgrades that will be part of the final iOS 27 release. However, Tim Cook already confirmed people’s fears that those features may end up being locked behind a subscription, adding extra costs for users.

Unsurprisingly, this last bit didn’t make Apple users on Reddit very happy. After years of Siri being the butt of many jokes, people don’t seem eager to pay for it, especially since it’s a thing their phones come with out of the box.

Is this the best time to buy an iPhone 17 Pro?

If you’re rocking a recent iPhone, it may be a great idea to just stick with it, but anyone with an aging smartphone may feel differently. I’d say now’s the best time to get yourself last year’s flagship, unless you don’t mind price hikes or really need AI.

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