iPhone 18 price increases.

The surge in memory prices driven by explosive demand for AI servers is spreading throughout the entire supply chain, putting Apple in a difficult position as it prepares to launch the iPhone 18.

Global memory chip prices are entering a new, sharp upward cycle, spreading throughout the supply chain and putting further pressure on the consumer electronics industry. Amid soaring computing demand for AI data centers, the pricing of the iPhone 18 generation is expected to remain a major unknown.

On January 28th, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo stated that Apple now negotiates memory prices on a quarterly basis instead of semi-annually as before, reflecting the increasing volatility of the market. According to him, the price of memory for iPhones is likely to continue rising in Q2 2026, with a similar adjustment to Q1.

Apple's cost fluctuations are often an important indicator for the entire industry, as the company is among the largest customers in the component supply chain and can proactively negotiate prices with its partners. However, even a giant like Apple can hardly avoid the trend of escalating memory prices amid supply shortages.

According to ZDNet Korea , Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix have been in discussions with Apple about supplying LPDDR memory in Q1 2026, with prices expected to increase significantly. Some reports suggest Samsung may raise prices by more than 80%, while SK Hynix is ​​aiming for an increase of around 100%. Sources also warn that LPDDR prices could continue to rise in the second half of 2026 as Apple launches its high-end iPhone 18 series.

LPDDR (Low Power Double Data Rate) is a type of memory that consumes less power than standard DRAM, commonly used in smartphones, tablets, AI devices, and smart cars. LPDDR5 is currently the most widely adopted standard.

This price surge isn't simply cyclical. A new report from TrendForce forecasts that the DRAM market will be impacted by global instability in the first half of 2026, leading to a slow recovery in consumer demand. However, in the second half of the year, North American cloud service providers are expected to significantly increase spending on AI servers, resulting in a surge in memory demand.

Apple is looking for alternative solutions to avoid raising the price of the iPhone 18. Photo: Bloomberg .

Apple is currently one of the most important customers for LPDDR memory manufacturers, with iPhone shipments expected to reach around 250 million units this year. Ming-Chi Kuo believes the company is trying to "avoid price increases as much as possible" for the iPhone 18, at least keeping the starting price the same to support marketing. However, cost pressures remain a factor attracting market attention.

Apple will announce its first-quarter 2026 fiscal year results after the US stock market closes on January 29th. Analysts believe investors will be particularly interested in gross profit margins and Apple's ability to absorb rising component costs, factors that could impact the entire global technology supply chain.

Source: https://znews.vn/iphone-18-tang-gia-post1623988.html