The only question that feels more important than the upgrades of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max is the one about their pricing. After Tim Cook confirmed it, Apple introduced some shocking price increases across its products, and it appears the upcoming iPhones will follow the same pattern.
Optimistically, the iPhone 18 Pro could cost about 10% more than the 17 Pro
Apple is almost certainly going to increase the prices of the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro phones, according to several of the most reputable Weibo leakers. According to a post (source in Chinese) from Digital Chat Station, it’s “highly unlikely” for the company to avoid an increase altogether.
In a breakdown of the potential increases, Digital Chat Station estimates that the base iPhone 18 Pro could cost roughly 11% more than the iPhone 17 Pro. Compared to last year’s model Chinese price of 8,999 yuan, the new model could start at 9,999 yuan.
If the same increase applies to the $1,099 US price of the current top-tier iPhone, that would put the upcoming model at about $1,220. Unfortunately, Digital Chat Station has one of the most optimistic estimates.
What do you think is a fair starting price for the iPhone 18 Pro?
The price hike could be even bigger
iPhone 18 Pro could be much more expensive than its predecessor. | Image by Macworld
Another reputable Weibo leaker known as Instant Digital suggested (source in Chinese) a steeper price increase, suggesting that the iPhone 18 Pro Max could start at 10,999 or even 11,499 yuan in China. That would be an increase of up to 15% from the iPhone 17 Pro’s 9,999 yuan starting price. Applied to the US, that would put the new Pro Max model’s price somewhere between $1,300 and $1,450.
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A third claim, coming (source in Chinese) from tipster Fixed Focus Digital, suggests that the increases will range between 10% and 20%. This adds to the flurry of speculation for the price of the iPhone 18 Pro, which The Wall Street Journal estimated could cost as much as $1,399 for the base model, or about 27% more than last year.
Until yesterday, such drastic increases sounded ludicrous, but then Apple announced price hikes for various devices, ranging from the MacBook Neo to the iPad Pro (M5) and the Apple Vision Pro. While most products saw between 15% and 25% raises, some went up as much as 33%, and the Apple TV jumped a shocking 54%.
The news was met with an unsurprising mix of anger and despair from users on Reddit. While many were cursing at the development of AI, others were blaming Apple for being greedy. One user even said they’ll need a new hobby, as trying out new devices didn’t seem feasible anymore.
Reddit users didn’t take Apple’s price hikes lightly. | Image by Reddit (Screenshot
What does that mean for the iPhone Ultra?
Render of the foldable iPhone Ultra. | Image by fpt.
Besides the iPhone 18 Pro, Apple is also expected to launch the foldable iPhone Ultra this September. Rumors about its price were mostly optimistic, claiming that the company was doing its best not to go over the $2,000 mark.
However, that seems all but impossible now, and some of the earlier forecasts could turn out to be true. As early as March last year, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested Apple’s foldable would cost as much as $2,500, while in November, Fubon Research offered a $2,399 estimate.
While these prices sound more realistic in the context of the memory cost crisis, the question of who would pay such prices remains open.
Is this the end of high-end phones?
One could argue that not everyone needs to buy the best smartphones on the market and that there will be cheaper phones available, including more affordable iPhones than the Pro models. However, the price hikes are not limited to the most expensive phones on the market, and budget phones are hit even worse.
I still find great value in a top-tier smartphone even at these new crazy prices, but making them prohibitively expensive for the vast majority of users could be their end. If only rich people can afford good phones, then not-so-good phones should become the norm.
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Ilia, a tech journalist at PhoneArena, has been covering the mobile industry since 2011, with experience at outlets like Forbes Bulgaria. Passionate about smartphones, tablets, and consumer tech, he blends deep industry knowledge with a personal fascination that began with his first Nokia and Sony Ericsson devices. Originally from Bulgaria and now based in Lima, Peru, Ilia balances his tech obsessions with walking his dog, training at the gym, and slowly mastering Spanish.
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