- 0-20%: Unlikely - Lacks credible sources
- 21-40%: Questionable - Some concerns remain
- 41-60%: Plausible - Reasonable evidence
- 61-80%: Probable - Strong evidence
- 81-100%: Highly Likely - Multiple reliable sources
50%
Plausible
The memory supply shortage has triggered a chain reaction that has adversely impacted the entire industry. From distributors being forced to purchase RAM modules with every motherboard, to NVIDIA reportedly halting the bundling of VRAM chips with GPU dies, it is a shockwave that threatens to make life financially stressful for consumers and companies alike.
Apple, which has formed a robust supply chain to stave off such events, is not immune to memory shortages, with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max possibly getting more expensive due to this very reason. However, the Cupertino firm's efforts on its custom silicon could prove to be the deciding factor in all of this.
iPhone 18 Pro models may avoid a price hike because Apple’s C2 5G modem, newer A20, A20 Pro SoCs, and next-generation wireless chip will reduce that total
A report published by United Daily News mentions the challenges that Apple faces regarding memory shortages and how this could lead to the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max becoming more expensive next year. The technology giant already introduced a price hike to its iPhone 17 series, so another $50 or $100 bump could be in the pipeline, depending on how well Apple can negotiate with memory suppliers.
The company is also planning to launch the iPhone Fold next year alongside the iPhone 18 family, making it the first time that Apple introduces a foldable flagship to the lineup. In short, it is going to be a pretty pricey series arriving in 2026, and the memory shortage situation doesn’t help matters. Fortunately, where other phone makers have to source every part from different vendors, Apple has taken a different route and increased the number of custom chips in its devices.
For starters, the A20 and A20 Pro will exclusively be used in the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone Fold, and the base iPhone 18, which is reportedly being rebranded as the iPhone 20 when it is slated to launch alongside the iPhone 18e in 2027. Keep in mind that these SoCs will leverage TSMC’s 2nm process, making them more expensive than the A19 and A19 Pro, but since Apple does not have to pay a premium to Qualcomm or MediaTek, it will end up saving money.
What are other ways in which Apple can prevent the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max from getting expensive in the midst of the memory shortage?
The C1 and C1X 5G modems were introduced to the iPhone 16e and iPhone Air this year, with the C2 said to be in development and will likely be found in the entire iPhone 18 roster. The next-generation baseband chip is reported to be mass produced on TSMC’s older 4nm process, helping save Apple millions on wafer expenses. According to an earlier estimate, the iPhone 16e’s C1 5G modem saves the company $10 per unit sold.
This means that, based on the previous iPhone 16e shipments tally of 22 million units, Apple will be pocketing a whopping $220 million in savings, not to mention avoiding the royalty payments to Qualcomm for using its proprietary technology. Next, we have the N1 wireless chip, which debuted in the iPhone 17 models. Whether Apple sticks with the N1 or introduces the N2 for the iPhone 18 launch, it does not need to pay Broadcom or any other company a dime because it has its own solutions ready for deployment.
Unfortunately, we don’t have a precise estimate of the savings Apple will obtain by using three custom chips for the iPhone 18 lineup, but it should be enough to comfortably ride the memory shortage wave without having to price its flagships higher than the company originally intended. If you think we are correct or incorrect in our assessments, let us know in the comments.
News Source: United Daily News
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