Rising chip and memory costs could drive a significant iPhone 18 Pro price increase.
Apple buyers in the UAE may need to prepare for a significantly more expensive iPhone upgrade this year.
GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu expects the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max to cost $250 to $300 more than their predecessors. If the forecast proves accurate, the iPhone 18 Pro’s US starting price could rise from $1,099 to between $1,349 and $1,399, while the Pro Max could increase from $1,199 to between $1,449 and $1,499.
Pu attributes the potential price increase to higher costs for Apple’s next-generation 2-nanometre chips, coupled with rising DRAM memory and NAND storage prices. Growing demand from AI companies for chips and data-centre components has also added pressure to global supply chains, pushing up the cost of key components.
The latest forecast marks a shift from Pu’s earlier position this year. In February, the analyst said Apple was working to keep iPhone 18 Pro pricing broadly unchanged through tighter cost management.
How much could the iPhone 18 Pro cost in the UAE?
Apple currently sells the 256GB iPhone 17 Pro for Dh4,699 in the UAE, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max starts at Dh5,099. In the US, the same models start at $1,099 and $1,199, respectively.
If Pu’s latest forecast is applied to UAE pricing, the estimated prices could be:
- iPhone 18 Pro: approximately Dh5,799 to Dh5,999
- iPhone 18 Pro Max: approximately Dh6,199 to Dh6,399
These figures are estimates rather than direct currency conversions. Apple’s UAE prices include VAT and are based on the company’s regional pricing structure, meaning the final prices could differ.
Apple has yet to announce the iPhone 18 Pro models or confirm any price increase. The new Pro models are expected to be unveiled in September alongside Apple’s first foldable iPhone, while the standard iPhone 18 is reportedly planned for a later release.
