iPhone 18 Launch Sees Prices Surge, Reversing Crypto Trend
The iPhone 18 lineup is set to launch today at Apple's 'Surprise and Shine' event, which promises to reveal more than just new phone models. The Wall Street Journal reports that the iPhone 18 Pro will start around $1,299 in the US, while the Pro Max will begin at $1,399. This marks a significant increase from last year's pricing for these models.
The prices of these phones can also be expressed in cryptocurrency terms. With Bitcoin currently trading at $79,196.62 and Ethereum at $2,500.09, an estimated $1,299 iPhone 18 Pro would cost around 0.0164 BTC or 0.52 ETH. The Pro Max, priced at $1,399, would require roughly 0.0177 BTC or 0.56 ETH.
This year's prices might seem like a step back after years of iPhones getting steadily cheaper in crypto terms. According to CoinGecko research, the amount of cryptocurrency needed to buy each new iPhone has fallen almost every year since 2011. The iPhone 4S required an astonishing 162.25 BTC back then, while last year's iPhone 17 Pro could be bought for just 0.007 BTC. Ethereum prices followed a similar trend, with the iPhone 17 costing only 0.18 ETH.
This year's iPhone launch looks like it will reverse this trend, at least to some extent. Bitcoin's price is currently below what it was last September, and Apple appears set to raise Pro-tier pricing by $150 to $200. This combination of factors might make the iPhone 18 Pro require more Bitcoin than its predecessor did.