[DigitalToday reporter Hyunwoo Choo] Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are increasingly likely to cost more than their predecessors. The IT outlet 9to5Mac reported on Wednesday that rising prices for memory and storage components, the adoption of a variable-aperture camera and the use of a 2-nanometre A20 Pro chip are seen as key factors behind potential increases.

Apple raised prices this summer for some products such as MacBooks and iPads, but excluded iPhones. Even so, expectations are growing that the iPhone 18 Pro lineup will be more expensive than the iPhone 17 Pro. Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook (팀 쿡) described the memory-price situation as a once-in-100-years flood and said prices are rising exponentially.

A variable-aperture camera system is also being cited as a reason for price increases. Ming-Chi Kuo (밍치 궈) expects the average selling price of the iPhone 18 Pro’s variable-aperture lens to be 50 percent higher than the iPhone 17 Pro’s main camera. The A20 Pro is also TSMC’s first 2-nanometre processor, and the new design is expected to raise manufacturing costs for Apple and TSMC.

Views differ on the size of any increase. Jeff Pu (제프 푸) expects the iPhone 18 Pro price could rise by $250 to $300. That would put the starting price of the iPhone 18 Pro at $1,349 to $1,399, and the iPhone 18 Pro Max at $1,449 to $1,499. The starting prices of the previous models are $1,099 and $1,199, respectively.

Other forecasts are lower. The Wall Street Journal, citing an analysis with TechInsights, expects the starting price to be at least $1,299, with the most likely price close to $1,399. Mark Gurman (마크 거먼) is certain Apple will raise iPhone prices and expects an increase of $100 to $200. He said that would be similar to recent price increases for Macs and iPads.

JP Morgan expects Apple could offset some of the burden from higher component prices this year by reducing costs for other parts in the iPhone 18 lineup. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max within weeks. The exact price is expected to be confirmed then.