The cost of 2nm chip + storage is too scary! Apple is going to raise prices: iPhone 18 Pro series will increase by $300

Kuai Technology reported on August 1 that Jeff Pu, an analyst at Haitong International Securities (GF Securities), predicted in a research report that the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, which will be released in September this year, may be priced $250 to $300 higher than the current iPhone 17 Pro series. He pointed out that the core driving force for rising costs comes from two aspects: First, the cost of A20 chips manufactured using the 2nm process increases; second, the prices of DRAM and NAND flash memory continue to rise. This trend is related to the huge demand for key components in the construction of global artificial intelligence infrastructure, causing Apple to face pressure on the supply chain. Comparing the overseas launch pricing of the iPhone 17 Pro series, the price of the basic version of the new generation Pro model has directly increased by US$300, and the price increase of the top-end version with large storage will further expand. Apple hopes to rely on pricing adjustments for high-end models to hedge against hardware cost pressures caused by the continued price increases of DRAM and NAND flash memory, while at the same time sharing the initial R&D investment for the first foldable iPhone to balance the overall hardware business profit level. In terms of product configuration, the iPhone 18 Pro series will be fully upgraded with the new generation A18 Pro bionic chip, which will strengthen the Apple Intelligence end-side AI computing power. The imaging module will be replaced with a new sensor. The telephoto lens specifications will be iteratively upgraded. The body material and heat dissipation structure will be simultaneously optimized to adapt to long-term AI computing and high-load photography shooting scenarios. Comprehensive hardware specification upgrades will support pricing adjustment logic. Market analysis points out that high-end Apple users are less sensitive to price. In the past, the market digested the premium model of Pro Max large storage version at a stable speed. A small price increase will not cause the loss of core customer groups. Instead, it can optimize the product profit structure and alleviate the supply chain capital pressure during the preparation stage of new machines. In September this year, Apple is expected to release the iPhone 18 Pro series and its first foldable screen iPhone, which is expected to cost more than $2,000. The standard iPhone