Apple to Keep iPhone 18 Starting Price Steady Despite Rising Memory Costs

Source: MacRumors

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, and while the cost of DRAM is rising, Apple is expected to absorb some of that increase to avoid raising the iPhone’s starting price. He predicts the base iPhone 18 will launch at the same price point as the iPhone 17, even as component costs climb.