Report: iPhone 18 Pro manufacturing up to 38 percent more expensive
The iPhone 18 Pro is likely Apple's most important new smartphone this year. A calculation shows how much more the components could cost.
Three iPhone boxes on a table: Even Apple is not immune to price inflation for components.
(Image: KaterynaSypailova/Shutterstock)
The analysis company Trendforce has compiled a Bill of Materials (BoM) for Apple's iPhone 18 Pro, likely to be released in September. The result is not pretty: Apple is apparently facing a price increase of 38 percent compared to the iPhone 17 Pro. Primarily, the Apple Silicon processor, the storage area (DRAM and NAND), and also the OLED panel are the price drivers. It remains unclear how much of this Apple will pass on to customers. So far, it looks like price increases are to be expected, which have long been implemented for Macs, iPads, and accessories.
Storage becomes most expensive element
For its analysis, Trendforce looked at the iPhone Pro with 256 GB. The BoM share of storage has become “drastically” higher, from 10 percent to 34 percent within just one year. Previously, the iPhone chip (Application Processor) was the biggest cost factor. According to Trendforce, storage inflation is also continuing.
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In the first half of 2027, the BoM share will already be over 40 percent. So far, Apple has not succeeded in finding alternatives, for example from China, which is due to political reasons in particular. In the future, according to Trendforce, panels and APs will be in the single-digit BoM range, although there are likely to be surcharges for these as well – chip manufacturer TSMC wants to see more money due to the new 2nm process. Apple has no alternative manufacturers here, although there have been speculations about new contracts with Intel or Samsung.
A Question of Pricing Strategy
An analysis by Counterpoint from this week examines whether Apple might pass on fewer component price increases for the iPhone 18 than one is used to from the company.
Counterpoint expects $300 BoM increases for the iPhone 18 Pro Max. If Apple wants to maintain its previous margin, US prices would have to rise by up to $350. However, to roll out the market, Apple might decide to land below that. Counterpoint estimates that Apple will implement an “asymmetric pricing strategy” with different levels, for example by specifically increasing prices for models with more flash storage, while smaller models remain cheaper, so that the overall picture improves.
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