iPhone 18 Pro Max Threatened to Become the Most Expensive iPhone, Here's the Reason

The iPhone 18 Pro Max reflects the changing dynamics of the global semiconductor industry. (photo: x @laobaishare)

JAKARTA - Prospective iPhone buyers seem to have to start preparing a larger fund. The latest leak says the price of the iPhone 18 Pro Max could rise significantly because the cost of producing the device has jumped sharply compared to the previous generation.

Research firm Counterpoint Research estimates that Apple will have to spend about $300 more in components (bill of materials/BOM) for each unit of the iPhone 18 Pro Max than the iPhone 17 Pro Max. If this prediction proves true, the increase will almost certainly be passed on to consumers through higher selling prices.

Based on Counterpoint Research's estimates, Apple is expected to raise the price of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max by an average of around US$200 or around Rp3.4 million (exchange rate of Rp17,200 per US dollar).

This means that if the initial price of the iPhone 17 Pro Max is in the range of 1,199 US dollars, then the iPhone 18 Pro Max has the potential to be priced starting at around 1,399 US dollars.

Although Apple has not confirmed the official price, the increase in component costs makes analysts assess that the company will find it difficult to maintain prices as in previous generations.

Memory Chips Become the Cause of the Problem

The main reason for the soaring production costs is not from the screen or camera, but from the memory component.

According to Counterpoint Research's estimates, for the iPhone 18 Pro Max variant with 12 GB RAM and 1 TB storage:

The price of NAND chips is expected to increase up to four times.

DRAM prices have risen almost fourfold.

Processor costs are relatively stable.

The camera module has a slight increase.

The cost of the screen panel is actually expected to decrease slightly.

The surge in NAND and DRAM prices is influenced by the ongoing global memory chip supply crisis. The high demand for AI servers, data centers, and artificial intelligence-based computers has kept memory prices climbing.

Apple actually faced a similar situation. When launching the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the company did not raise the base price directly. Instead, Apple removed the 128 GB storage variant so that the cheapest model became a 256 GB version at the same price as the highest configuration in the previous generation.

A similar strategy is expected to be used again on the iPhone 18 Pro line. In this way, Apple can maintain the image of a competitive initial price, even though consumers actually have to buy a more expensive configuration.

Production Costs Are Not the Only Factor

Although the bill of materials (BOM) is an important indicator, the cost is not the only component in determining the price of the iPhone.

Apple also has to take into account:

Research and development (R&D) costs.

Software development.

Global distribution.

Marketing.

Exchange rate fluctuations.

Price negotiation with suppliers.

As one of the world's largest buyers of components, Apple also has high bargaining power to obtain more competitive prices than other manufacturers.

However, analysts assess that this year's cost pressures are much greater than in previous years.

iPhone Fold Affected?

The report also mentions that 2026 is an ideal time for Apple to launch the iPhone Fold.

In addition to having to deal with rising component costs on the iPhone 18 Pro line, Apple is also expected to introduce its first foldable smartphone, which has been predicted to have a premium price since the beginning.

If both products experience price increases, Apple could potentially face a major challenge in maintaining market demand, especially amid global economic conditions that are still not fully stable.

Estimated Increase in Component Costs

Components Cost Change (Rumor) NAND Flash Up to 4 times DRAM Up almost 4 times Processor Relatively stable Camera Up slightly OLEDScreen Slightly down Total BOM Up about US$300

The increase in component costs on the iPhone 18 Pro Max reflects changes in the dynamics of the global semiconductor industry. If previously memory prices tended to decrease due to excess supply, now the explosion in demand from the artificial intelligence sector has reversed the situation.

Chipmakers such as Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron are prioritizing production of high-performance memory for AI data centers, leaving supplies for consumer devices more limited.

For Apple, this situation creates a dilemma. On the one hand, the company needs to increase the specifications of the iPhone to remain competitive, including providing larger RAM to support Apple Intelligence features. On the other hand, the increase in component costs is putting pressure on profit margins.

If Counterpoint Research's predictions prove true, the iPhone 18 Pro Max will likely be one of the models with the largest price increase in recent years. However, Apple's final decision will only be known at the official launch, which is expected to take place in September 2026.