iPhone 18 Series Might See a Price Increase Due to The Memory Crisis

Thursday, 29 January 2026 at 03:09

Unfortunately, the memory shortage is expected to remain a challenge in 2026. There are no clear signs of improvement, especially as the AI industry continues to consume large volumes of memory components. The pressure is already affecting the PC market, has an impact on gaming consoles, and will eventually reach smartphones. Even Apple may not be immune. As a result of these market conditions, the upcoming iPhone 18 series could end up costing more than previous generations.

Samsung Puts Pressure on Apple With Costlier DRAM

A recent repor t from South Korea claims that Samsung has raised LPDDR RAM chip prices by as much as 80% compared to what it charged Apple in the fourth quarter of 2025. That is a significant jump for a component that was once considered relatively low-cost in modern electronics. The same report, citing industry sources, says SK Hynix, another major DRAM supplier, has increased its DRAM prices by up to 100%. For those who have been following DDR4 and DDR5 trends, rising memory prices are not entirely surprising, with AI demand widely seen as a major driver.

In the past, Apple has managed to soften the impact of component price increases through long-term agreements with key suppliers. This time, however, the company appears to be facing more pressure. Reports suggest Apple has secured a deal with Samsung that locks in DRAM pricing only for the first half of the year.

Key Points

The global memory shortage is expected to continue through 2026.
AI demand is consuming large volumes of memory components.
The situation is affecting PCs, consoles and could soon impact smartphones.
Apple may not be immune to rising component costs.
Samsung reportedly raised LPDDR RAM prices by up to 80% for Apple.
SK Hynix is said to have increased DRAM prices by as much as 100%.
Apple’s current pricing agreement with Samsung may only cover the first half of the year.
If memory prices stay high, Apple could face higher manufacturing costs.
This may lead to higher prices for the iPhone 18 series and other Apple devices.

Ming-Chi Kuo Doesn’t Expect an iPhone 18 Price Increase

That timeline matters. Apple’s biggest launches typically take place in the second half of the year, with iPhone production ramping up months before the usual September announcement. If memory prices remain elevated beyond the covered period, Apple may have to absorb higher costs during peak production. In that scenario, part of the increase could be reflected in the final price of new iPhones and potentially other Apple devices released later in the year.

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There is still some room for optimism, though. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes Apple may absorb part of the rising component costs in an effort to keep iPhone prices stable and protect its market share. However, only time will tell if that proves true, as the situation could become more complicated if the DRAM shortage continues to escalate.

Some recent leaks point to the inclusion of a left-aligned punch-hole camera in the iPhone 18 series.

It is worth noting that 2026 might be a different year for Apple enthusiasts. The rumors say Apple will unveil the iPhone 18 Pro series and the iPhone Fold later this year. The vanilla iPhone 18, on the other hand, should arrive early next year with the iPhone 18e.