Apple iPhone 18 Pricing Reveals Rare Reversal for Crypto Buyers
Today marks the launch of Apple's iPhone 18 lineup at its 'Surprise and Shine' event, with the Wall Street Journal reporting that the iPhone 18 Pro will start at $1,299 and the Pro Max at $1,399 in the US. These prices are higher than last year's Pro-tier pricing, but still relatively affordable considering the device's capabilities.
The cost of these devices in crypto terms is a different story. With Bitcoin trading at $79,196.62 and Ethereum at $2,500.09, an estimated $1,299 iPhone 18 Pro would require about 0.0164 BTC or 0.52 ETH. The Pro Max, priced at $1,399, would need roughly 0.0177 BTC or 0.56 ETH.
According to CoinGecko research, the amount of crypto needed to buy each new iPhone has fallen almost every year since 2011. However, this year's launch looks different due to Bitcoin's price sitting well below last September's levels and Apple's decision to raise Pro-tier pricing by $150 to $200.
Despite this uptick, the current price tag remains a tiny fraction of what early Bitcoin holders once paid. The gap between 162 BTC for a 2011 iPhone and roughly 0.016 BTC for a 2026 Pro model still reflects Bitcoin's enormous rise in value over 15 years.