With just two months left until Apple unveils the new iPhone 18 series and other hardware at its September event, many are wondering how much more the new devices will cost compared to their predecessors. Apple has already raised prices on a wide range of products, including iPads, Macs and home devices. In some cases, prices rose as much as 18 percent to nearly 33 percent, largely due to a global memory shortage as artificial intelligence companies snapped up memory supplies for data centers.
Given the current situation, analysts and industry insiders believe that the new iPhones coming this fall could cost significantly more. This could put an additional strain on consumers’ pockets at a time when the cost of living remains high, inflation continues to weigh on household budgets, and job uncertainty in the age of artificial intelligence has many people worried.
Rising gadget prices and the prospect of soaring iPhone prices have sparked fears online that smartphones could take an even larger chunk of consumers’ budgets as inflation continues. For example, in India, where wage growth remains sluggish and youth unemployment remains high, buying an expensive iPhone could mean taking on a greater EMI burden. All this comes at a time when Apple is making deeper inroads into the Indian market and after years of patience, the iPhone has become the best-selling premium smartphone in the country and has gained market share.
The big picture
While Apple doesn’t comment on future prices, a report from Counterpoint Research suggests that the spec sheet for the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro Max could rise to $300 compared to the iPhone 17 Pro Max released last year. This is approximately Rs 28,717 more than the production cost of the top-end 1TB iPhone.
Rising prices for NAND and DRAM memory, as well as higher manufacturing costs for Apple’s next-generation 2nm chip and its advanced packaging are also expected to push up manufacturing costs. The cost of the camera is expected to increase slightly as Apple plans to introduce new camera technology in the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max.
The iPhone Fold could become the standard for widescreen foldable phones.
Apple usually increases prices on its products only in exceptional circumstances. If you were wondering why this could happen now, the boom in artificial intelligence is driving up the prices of everyday gadgets. There’s no sugarcoating this: companies like Apple are likely to protect their profits, ultimately passing on higher costs to consumers. Since iPhones already cost more, ongoing memory shortages will likely force consumers to pay even more.
The lack of RAM will continue
While AI was initially seen as a positive shift in productivity, it is now impacting various aspects of daily life, from environmental issues including the consumption of billions of gallons of water and other natural resources, to the proliferation of AI-generated content on social media, declining incomes and job losses.
The AI boom has also contributed to a shortage of memory used in smartphones and laptops, causing RAM prices to soar as memory chip makers shift production to more profitable high-bandwidth memory for AI data centers and move away from consumer-grade DRAM. DRAM prices have increased 80 to 90 percent in just the first six weeks of 2026, according to Counterpoint Research. So it’s no surprise that DRAM prices are expected to rise another 50 percent or more in 2026, according to market researcher TrendForce.
The situation has reached the point where brands are reducing the production of inexpensive and budget smartphones and laptops. More and more companies are shifting their production priorities towards mid- and high-end devices. Even the prices of premium smartphones and laptops are rising, and manufacturers are likely to pass on these higher costs to consumers.
We’ve already seen Apple recently increase the prices of some of its products. Insiders expect another sharp rise in smartphone and laptop prices in the second half of the year, with fewer discounts likely during the holiday season.
Apple is raising prices on MacBooks and iPads around the world due to rising prices for memory and storage chips. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
Don’t put off buying a new iPhone
With the memory crisis expected to last until 2028, there may not be much point in waiting any longer to buy an iPhone if you’ve been putting off purchasing for a long time. I wouldn’t expect the price of the current generation iPhone 17 to drop anytime soon, even after the launch of the iPhone 18. Experts are already hinting at a possible price increase for the iPhone 18, which could make it more expensive than the iPhone 17.
However, if you were waiting for an upgrade to the standard iPhone model, it’s worth noting that Apple may not release the iPhone 18 this year, unlike in previous years. The company could release the device in spring 2027 instead. While this would be an unusual move, it would also allow the iPhone 17 to remain on the market longer.
…what about the iPhone 18 Pro/Max?
Both the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to launch this fall, but the starting prices of the new models are likely to be $200 (around Rs 19,148) higher than last year’s models. However, the iPhone 18 Pro models may cost even more in India. As a result, your monthly EMI payments may also increase significantly. Keep this in mind before you get too excited about the iPhone 18 Pro lineup.
I would not recommend buying the iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 17 Pro Max now if you have already decided to buy the iPhone 18 Pro series.
Apple is reportedly considering major changes to its iPhone strategy, with the premium iPhone 18 and foldable iPhone expected to take center stage in 2026. (Image: X/Saurav)
More expensive iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Fold may be in the spotlight
Despite the tough economic conditions, Apple’s September event is expected to focus on the more expensive Pro models and the new ultra-high-end foldable iPhone. Perhaps the strategy is to target consumers who already have plenty of money, especially those working for new artificial intelligence companies, influencers and content creators. High-end iPhones remain in demand as highly useful devices and as status symbols.
It’s clear that Apple is aiming to position the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max as the best devices. Both models may feature under-screen Face ID for the first time, but Dynamic Island is expected to remain. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to feature a single back design instead of the dual-tone design seen on the current iPhone 17 Pro models. The camera lenses are expected to be more visible and the Apple logo may have a reflective surface.
But Apple is moving beyond the premium iPhone Pro series. For the first time, the company may launch a foldable iPhone that could cost over $2,000 (roughly Rs. 200,000). However, supplies of the device may remain limited, making it extremely difficult for consumers to get their hands on Apple’s first foldable iPhone.
The iPhone Fold, or whatever Apple eventually calls it, is expected to have a 5.5-inch external display and a 7.8-inch internal display, which is slightly smaller than the 8.3-inch iPad mini. When folded, the screen will most likely be square, but when unfolded it will be much wider. I expect it to be similar to Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide, which will be unveiled early next week at an event in London.
Apple used WWDC 2026 to showcase a revamped Siri and a broader artificial intelligence strategy focused on practical features integrated across all of its devices. (Image: Indian Express/Anuj Bhatia)
Growing income gap and rising cost of living
Rent, Groceries, Petrol, Travel and EMIs. If you’re a young person working and living in a metropolitan area, you’ve probably seen countless discussions online and on Reddit asking, “Why is everything so expensive?”
Times are tough for many people, especially young people. Student loan debt is on the rise, and even finding a job after completing traditionally “safe” courses like a bachelor’s degree in computer science or an MBA is becoming more of a challenge. The impact of inflation is very real, and factors such as the US-Iran war and the artificial intelligence boom have further contributed to rising costs.
The question is whether consumers will show interest in Apple’s more expensive iPhone models, scheduled for release later this year. Of course, Apple has a strong influence and many people are willing to pay more for its products. However, rising inflation, soaring home prices, hidden costs, stagnant wages and a widening wage gap, especially affecting young people, may make it difficult for consumers to justify increasing spending on premium devices like the iPhone in this economy. Of course, EMIs and easy personal loans have made iPhones ‘affordable’ to millions of Indians.
But as the global economy takes shape and AI quickly displaces white-collar jobs, the question arises whether consumers will still have the same appetite to pay premium prices for high-end smartphones as they once did. There is a real power imbalance, with consumers feeling more pressure from rising rents, rising grocery bills and rising prices for everyday gadgets.