Apple Price Hike Wave May Expand! Experts Predict iPhone 18 Pro Could Reach This Price Point, with Two Other New Products Also at Risk

Apple has significantly raised the prices of multiple hardware and software services, including iPads and Macs, starting in June, but this wave of price increases may continue to expand. With Apple's next launch event approaching next month, market analysts predict that key products such as the iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch will also follow with price adjustments, meaning consumers planning to upgrade their devices may need to prepare larger budgets.

Apple CEO Tim Cook stated during the Q3 earnings call that price increases have become unavoidable. He pointed to a rare surge in memory prices as the primary reason forcing the company to adjust pricing. Since the end of June, iPad and Mac prices have increased by at least 3,000 yuan, with higher price hikes applied to models equipped with larger memory and SSD capacities. In some high-end configurations, the price difference before and after adjustment has reached tens of thousands of yuan.

According to foreign media outlet 9to5Mac and several analysts, the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro series launching this fall could see price increases of up to $200 (approximately 6,468 yuan), potentially pushing the starting price to $1,299 (around 42,014 yuan). Additionally, the long-standing practice of lowering prices for older models after a new release may be broken this year. Apple is reportedly considering maintaining or even slightly increasing the prices of the iPhone 17 series.

The soon-to-be-unveiled Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 are also on the list for potential price hikes, as they require more powerful hardware and increased memory to support advanced AI features, according to 9to5Mac. In contrast, AirPods, which rely less on memory, have a lower likelihood of price increases. Any minor adjustments, if implemented, are expected to be announced during the September launch event.