If you have been counting down days until September to finally upgrade to iPhone 18, there may be some bad news waiting for you. Just months before Apple’s biggest launch of the year, CEO Tim Cook warned that rising component costs are forcing company toward price hikes. And if industry estimates are correct, the next iPhone could cost up to $200 more than its predecessor, turning what was supposed to be an exciting upgrade into a much more expensive purchase.
Apple CEO Tim Cook indicated that higher prices are on horizon as company struggles with soaring memory costs and tightening supply chains. In comments made to WSJ, Cook acknowledged that the company can no longer absorb the sharp increases being passed on by suppliers, making price hikes increasingly difficult to avoid.
The timing of the announcement has caught the attention of industry watchers. With Apple expected to unveil the iPhone 18 series later this year, many are now wondering whether the next-generation iPhone could arrive with a noticeably higher price tag.
While Cook did not reveal how much prices could increase or exactly when the changes will take effect, some tech experts said Apple’s upcoming phone will be getting uptop $200 pricier than previous generations. The expected iPhone 18 lineup is widely seen as the most likely candidate for a price revision, though future MacBooks and iPads could also be affected. “We’re doing our best to mitigate the huge increases that are being passed to us,” Cook said, adding that the situation has become increasingly difficult to sustain.
According to the Apple chief, memory suppliers are raising prices at a time when demand for devices remains strong and supply remains constrained. The surge in AI-related infrastructure spending has only intensified pressure on the global memory market, creating challenges for consumer electronics manufacturers.
For Pakistani consumers, the news could be particularly unwelcome. Unlike some competing brands, Apple does not have an official local presence in Pakistan. As a result, the company cannot leverage regional pricing strategies that might help soften the impact of global cost increases. Any international price adjustments are likely to be reflected in local retail prices as well.
The situation stands in contrast to Samsung, which operates officially in Pakistan and benefits from local assembly. Those factors have helped Samsung keep pricing relatively competitive in the market, even amid rising global production costs. The Galaxy S26 series, for instance, launched in Pakistan at more favorable prices than in several international markets. Perhaps the most striking part of Cook’s comments was his description of the current market conditions.
Apple is not the only company feeling the pressure. Technology giants including Samsung, HP, Microsoft, Nintendo, and Valve have all pointed to rising memory costs and supply constraints as growing concerns in recent months.
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