Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max to get more expensive due to $300 higher production costs
Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro Max is expected to see a significant increase in production costs due to rising DRAM and NAND flash memory prices. To mitigate these costs, Apple may raise retail prices by at least $200, though profit margins are still expected to shrink.
Why it matters
This highlights the impact of global semiconductor supply chain volatility on consumer electronics pricing and corporate profitability.
ⓘ Apple The successor to the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is expected to be significantly more expensive to manufacture. The Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max is expected to cost up to $300 more to manufacture than the iPhone 17 Pro Max. A BoM analysis shows that Apple's costs are skyrocketing due to the DRAM crisis. Even a substantial price increase is unlikely to protect its margins. Hannes Brecher ( translated by Hannes Brecher), Published 07/09/2026 🇩🇪 Apple iPhone Leaks / Rumors Smartphone 4 Reviews exclude selected types exclude selected tags Analysts at J.P. Morgan recently stated that the production costs of the most affordable Apple iPhone 18 Pro are only increasing by 5% to $540, compared to the 256 GB iPhone 17 Pro ( $1,429 on Amazon ), as Apple is expected to counter rising DRAM and NAND prices through various cost-saving measures.
The article reports on industry analysis and market projections without taking a political stance or using loaded language.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in