Apple could keep iPhone 18 price the same as it 'shows just how much leverage they have,' argues analyst
- This year, Ming‑Chi Kuo said Apple plans to avoid raising the iPhone 18 starting price, keeping the base flat as with iPhone 17, which aids marketing.
- Reports show the A20 chip is costing substantially more, and TSMC faces production constraints as GPU demand for AI rises, forcing Apple to pay higher prices to secure capacity.
- Memory‑price volatility has forced Apple to renegotiate LPDDR memory and NAND flash deals quarterly, as TrendForce reported Samsung could raise prices by over 80%.
- Kuo says Apple will absorb increased supplier costs and use the 'market chaos' to attract customers, showing its strong negotiation leverage in locking deals.
- A lot can change before September this year, and Apple’s earnings call may clarify if higher‑storage iPhone 18 variants will cost more despite a flat base model price.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Ongoing RAM supply and cost crisis isn't an issue for Apple's iPhone
Memory won't be an issue for Apple in the near term due to its contracts with suppliers, and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo thinks that Apple will not increase iPhone 18 prices to compensate.A Samsung LPDDR5X memory chip - Image Credit: SamsungAnalysts have discussed the topic of the ongoing memory price rises affecting the tech industry at large. The general consensus is that Apple's supply chain won't be massively affected by it in the short term.This i…
Apple to Keep iPhone 18 Starting Price Steady Despite Rising Memory Costs
DRAM shortages are set to impact smartphone manufacturers like Apple in 2026, but the company is going to try to keep iPhone 18 prices steady despite having to pay more for components, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo says that Apple negotiates memory prices with suppliers on a quarterly basis, so price increases are expected in the second quarter of 2026. The upcoming price hike will be similar to the first quarter increase that has…
It has been revealed that Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix have recently doubled the price of low-power DRAM (LPDDR) supplied to Apple compared to the previous quarter. Apple has been able to procure LPDDR at relatively low prices by leveraging its position as a major smartphone manufacturer.
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