Apple’s next premium iPhone may be more expensive than before. According to new reports, the company’s upcoming iPhone 18 Pro can be launched in America at a starting price of $ 1,299 to $ 1,399 (about Rs 1.12 lakh to 1.21 lakh).

If this claim proves true, then compared to iPhone 17 Pro, its price may increase by up to $300. However, Apple has not yet given any official information regarding its price.

Why might the price increase?
According to reports, the biggest reason behind this is the rising prices of memory and storage chips. It is being told that the memory package used in iPhone 17 Pro used to cost Apple around $39, whereas for iPhone 18 Pro, the same cost can increase up to $145.

A big increase in storage prices is also expected. A 256GB storage module, which earlier cost around $13, can now reach up to $145.

AI becomes the new reason for expensive smartphones
Till a few years ago, the price of a smartphone was determined by camera, display and processor, but now the picture is changing. New AI technology requires more RAM, faster storage and high-performance chips to run efficiently. This is the reason why the manufacturing cost of many companies including Apple is continuously increasing.

The demand for components used for AI features, on-device machine learning and smart processing is increasing rapidly all over the world, which is also affecting the prices of smartphones.

Big upgrade can be found in camera also
Apple can provide variable aperture primary camera in iPhone 18 Pro. This technology physically controls the light coming into the camera, which can improve low-light photography and professional image quality.

Reports claim that this new camera system can be about 50% more expensive than the existing Pro model, which can have a direct impact on the price of the phone.

What new features can be found?

According to leaks, many major upgrades can be seen in iPhone 18 Pro.

• New generation Apple chipset
• Better AI Processing
• Great low-light photography
• Advanced Computational Imaging
• better zoom camera
• New AI features and more customization with iOS 27

There is little hope of major changes in the design. Apple’s focus this time seems to be on making the phone smarter and more powerful.

How expensive can it be in India?
If the price of iPhone 18 Pro in America remains between $1,299 to $1,399, then its price in the Indian market may be even higher.

Due to taxes, import duties and currency exchange rates in India, flagship iPhones are already launched at a higher price than US prices. In such a situation, iPhone 18 Pro may also come with a premium price tag. However, the company has not yet announced any price for India.

Could this price increase be true?

At present, all this information is based on reports and initial estimates. Sometimes Apple itself bears some part of the increasing manufacturing costs, so that the entire burden does not fall on the customers.

Still, one thing seems clear – due to AI, high-speed memory and advanced camera technology, premium smartphones may become more expensive than before in the coming years. If the reports prove to be true, the iPhone 18 Pro could become one of Apple’s most expensive Pro iPhone models to date.