LONDON – If you are planning to upgrade to iPhone 18, it may be time to start setting aside little extra cash as Apple’s next flasgship hone is rumored to arrive with higher price tag along with major upgrades, including more powerful A20 Pro chip, improved cameras, and longer battery life.
Soaring memory and storage prices may push phone’s starting price to around $1,299, making it one of the most expensive Pro models Apple has ever released. Months before expected launch of the iPhone 18 lineup, a wave of reports is painting a picture of a device that could deliver some of the biggest upgrades in recent memory. From a redesigned display and next-generation chip to major camera enhancements and potentially record-breaking battery life, the iPhone 18 Pro is shaping up to be far more than a routine annual refresh.
The tech giant is facing rise in component costs as memory and storage prices continue to surge worldwide. The impact could be significant enough to push the iPhone 18 Pro into entirely new pricing territory. Behind the scenes, the biggest challenge isn’t flashy new features, it’s the cost of the parts that power them.
The price of the memory package used inside the iPhone 18 Pro could increase by nearly four times compared to the previous generation. Storage costs are also reportedly climbing sharply, adding even more pressure to Apple’s production budget. Taken together, industry insiders believe manufacturing cost of an entry-level iPhone 18 Pro could jump dramatically compared with the iPhone 17 Pro.
If Apple chooses to maintain the same profit margins it enjoyed on previous Pro models, the company may have little choice but to raise retail prices. Some forecasts suggest the starting price could move well beyond today’s Pro-level pricing, especially if Apple includes all of its rumored hardware upgrades.
While Apple is not expected to radically redesign the iPhone’s overall shape, subtle changes could make the device feel noticeably more modern.
Another interesting upgrades is smaller Dynamic Island. Apple may move additional Face ID hardware beneath the display, reducing the size of the cutout and creating a cleaner, more immersive screen. The company is also said to be refining the design of the rear panel after mixed reactions to recent aesthetics. A more unified look between the frame and glass back could give the iPhone 18 Pro a sleeker appearance, while new color options may add a fresh visual identity to the lineup.
Under the hood, Apple is reportedly preparing the A20 Pro processor, a chip that could represent one of the company’s largest performance leaps in years. Built using an advanced 2-nanometer manufacturing process, the A20 Pro is expected to deliver faster speeds, improved power efficiency, and stronger AI capabilities. Combined with new packaging technology, the chip could help power everything from advanced photography features to on-device artificial intelligence experiences.
Apple’s camera improvements often steal the spotlight, and this year may be no different. The headline feature is rumored to be a variable-aperture main camera.
Apple is also rumored to be improving its telephoto camera with a wider aperture, helping deliver better image quality in challenging lighting conditions.
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