Apple’s next high-end iPhone could become much more expensive to make as a sharp rise in memory prices pushes up component costs.
The 256GB iPhone 18 Pro is estimated to cost about 38 percent more to build than the equivalent iPhone 17 Pro, according to smartphone research firm TrendForce. The increase could put pressure on Apple to raise prices when the new iPhone range arrives.
Memory has become the biggest driver of the higher production cost. It accounted for about 10 percent of the component cost of a 256GB iPhone Pro a year ago. TrendForce now expects memory to make up around 34 percent of the total cost in the third quarter of 2026.
That share could rise above 40 percent in the first half of 2027 if memory prices continue to climb. This would push memory ahead of the display and application processor as the most expensive part of the phone.
Memory prices have risen five to seven times since the start of 2025, according to TrendForce. The squeeze is expected to hit Android phone makers even harder, especially companies selling entry-level and mid-range devices.
Some Android manufacturers may have to raise prices more sharply, while others could cut certain models from their line-ups to control costs.
Apple may have more room to absorb some of the increase. TrendForce expects the company to sacrifice part of its profit margin to limit the impact on customers and protect iPhone sales.
Apple could also increase prices of older iPhone models when the new range launches. That would allow the company to spread the higher costs across more products instead of putting the entire burden on the new models.
The memory shortage has already forced Apple to raise prices on several other products. The company increased prices for its Mac, iPad, Apple TV, HomePod and Vision Pro lines in June.
The iPhone was spared at the time, but that may not last much longer.
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