20% More, an Analyst Predicts. Thanks a Lot, RAMageddon
Market research firm TrendForce predicts that Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 series could see price increases of 10% to 20% due to rising RAM costs. The report suggests that even with Apple's cost-saving efforts, the foldable 'iPhone Ultra' could reach prices as high as $3,000.
Why it matters
Rising hardware costs and supply chain shortages are directly impacting consumer electronics pricing, potentially limiting market accessibility for high-end devices.
Apple's memory costs for some of the new phones could be nearly 400% higher than last year, TrendForce says.
Read full bio September 3, 2026, 5:09 pm ET
A mockup of what Apple's first foldable iPhone might look like. Jeffrey Hazelwood/CNET Apple’s “Surprise and Shine” event is days away, and there are plenty of rumors swirling about new devices we can expect, like a new Apple Watch and the first foldable iPhone , which could be called the iPhone Ultra.
When we asked CNET readers one thing they’d change about the iPhone in our Big Guessing Game , 16% said they want it to cost less. But that’s not happening. In fact, you should expect new models to cost significantly more.
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