iPhone 18 Pro price details leak before Apple's September event

Fresh analyst predictions suggest Apple's iPhone 18 Pro models could cost much more than expected when they launch in September. Rising memory costs and recent Mac and iPad price hikes are fueling expectations of a bigger increase. Indian buyers need to be prepared because price hikes are likely coming for the next-gen iPhone Pro models.

In Short

• iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max could see a price hike of up to $200, says IDC
• Indian analysts had predicted the Pro models to become Rs 9,500–Rs 14,200 more expensive
• The upcoming iPhone models are expected to debut in first half of September 2026

Apple's next iPhone launch is still two months away, but fresh analyst predictions suggest buyers may need to prepare for a bigger bill than expected. While earlier reports hinted that Apple could limit price increases for the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, the conversation has now changed after the company recently raised prices of several Mac and iPad models. Analysts now believe the premium iPhone 18 Pro models could also see a steeper jump when they debut later this year.

Apple is widely expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro series during its usual September launch event. Although the company has not confirmed any pricing, analysts tracking Apple's business believe rising component costs, especially memory chips, could force the company to increase prices across its flagship lineup.

According to analytics firm IDC, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max could become up to $200 more expensive than their predecessors. Earlier, IDC had estimated a $100 increase for the Pro models and around $50 for the standard variants. However, after Apple increased the prices of its latest Macs and iPads by as much as $300 in some cases, IDC Senior Director of Data & Analytics Nabila Popal believes iPhone prices could rise even further.

"In our forecast, we had assumed a price hike of $100 to Pro and Pro Max models, and $50 hike to base models--however, seeing the price hikes today to iPad and Macs going as high as $300 for some models, my personal instinct says the hike to iPhones may be even higher than what we assumed--perhaps even $200 to the Pro/Pro Max models. I think the days of $50 price increases are over," Popal said.

If that prediction turns out to be accurate, the iPhone 18 Pro could start between $1,249 and $1,299 in the US, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max may carry a starting price between $1,349 and $1,399.

The expected increase is largely linked to the ongoing global memory shortage, which has pushed up the prices of RAM and storage chips. The iPhone 18 Pro models are rumoured to feature 12GB RAM, and Apple has already increased the prices of recent iPads equipped with similar memory configurations. Analysts believe that trend could offer a clue about how the company may price its next-generation iPhones.

Indian buyers should prepare for it

The possible price hike could also affect Indian buyers. In an earlier interaction with India Today Tech, IDC India Vice President Navkendar Singh said he expects Apple to raise the prices of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max by around $100 to $150 compared to the launch prices of the iPhone 17 Pro lineup. However, he made that prediction before Apple announced steep price hikes for its MacBooks and iPads. With the company now charging much higher prices for those devices, the earlier estimate may no longer hold true. Indian buyers should also be prepared because India has seen some of the steepest price hikes for Apple's MacBooks and iPads. Apple products have traditionally been priced higher in India than in the US, and if the iPhone 18 Pro models become much more expensive in the US than their predecessors, the Indian launch prices are also likely to rise sharply. This is a trend that Apple buyers in India have seen over the years.

"There will possibly be a $100-$150 (approximately Rs 9,500 to Rs 14,200) increase in iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max pricing versus iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max launch prices. The memory situation will impact the launch prices of the 18 Pro and Pro Max," Singh said.

If Apple follows that strategy, the iPhone 18 Pro could launch above the iPhone 17 Pro's starting launch price of Rs 1,34,900 in India, while the Pro Max may move beyond Rs 1,49,900.

Mac Rumours reported that IDC believes even if Apple raises prices, demand for the Pro models is unlikely to be affected in a major way. The firm argues that many users with older iPhones may finally upgrade to access Apple's latest AI-powered Siri features. Buyers of Pro Max models are also generally less sensitive to price increases, while monthly financing plans could make the higher prices easier to absorb.

Apple is also expected to introduce its first foldable iPhone alongside the iPhone 18 lineup. IDC estimates that the foldable model could start at around $2,500, with higher storage versions potentially touching $3,000. Analysts believe such an ultra-premium device could help Apple balance rising component costs without pushing prices of the rest of the lineup even higher.

At the moment, these remain analyst predictions, and Apple has not officially revealed the pricing of the iPhone 18 series. The final details are expected to become clear when the company unveils its next-generation iPhones, likely during the first half of September. You can stay tuned to India Today Tech for more such updates on iPhones and other Apple products.

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