iPhone 18 Pro Price Increase Likely as BOM Cost Jumps 38%, Memory Hits 42%

Apple could face significantly higher production costs with the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro, mainly because of rapidly rising memory prices.

According to the latest research from TrendForce, the bill of materials (BOM) cost of the 256GB iPhone 18 Pro is estimated to be around 38% higher year-over-year compared with the equivalent iPhone 17 Pro.

The biggest change is memory.

iPhone Pro BOM Cost Breakdown

Memory represented only around 10% of BOM cost on the previous generation. That figure is expected to jump to approximately 34% in Q3 2026 and could reach 42% during the first half of 2027.

This means memory could become a much larger cost factor than either the processor or display.

Will the iPhone 18 Pro Price Increase?

TrendForce believes higher retail prices are becoming difficult to avoid. However, Apple may not pass the entire cost increase directly to customers.

Apple could instead accept a lower gross margin to keep the iPhone 18 Pro price increase under control and protect shipment volumes.

The company could also adjust pricing for older iPhones when the iPhone 18 generation launches.

According to DeviceDecode, this makes memory pricing one of the most important factors to watch ahead of Apple's next iPhone launch. A continued increase in DRAM prices could influence not only the iPhone 18 Pro but the wider smartphone market.

Android manufacturers may face even greater pressure because many mid-range and budget phones operate with much smaller profit margins.

Source

TrendForce — August 10, 2026

Additional reporting cross-checked with MacRumors, 9to5Mac, AppleInsider and IT Home. TrendForce's original research also says memory prices have increased five- to sevenfold since early 2025 and expects continued smartphone-market pressure through 2027.