Apple is expected to face a sharp increase in the cost of manufacturing the iPhone 18 Pro, with a TrendForce analysis projecting that its bill of materials will be roughly 38% to 40% higher than for the prior model. Multiple outlets cite the same estimate, framing it as a year-over-year jump tied to component pricing.
The sources converge on memory costs as the biggest driver. 9to5Mac reports Apple would pay about 38% more for iPhone 18 Pro components than it did for its predecessor, and it highlights that memory pricing is rising most, describing it as around three times higher this year. AppleInsider similarly links the increase to the ongoing memory crisis and limited supply, saying the iPhone 18 Pro is expected to cost Apple nearly 40% more than the iPhone 17 Pro.
While all sources discuss the same cost estimate from TrendForce, they differ slightly in how they interpret its implications for end pricing. 9to5Mac notes that the projected manufacturing cost increase may not be as large as some rumors suggest for consumer prices, whereas the other outlet focuses more directly on the magnitude of the parts-cost increase.
