Apple Dials Up iPhone Prices Amid Memory Cost Surge

Apple's recent fall event marked a shift in its pricing strategy, with the company opting for price hikes across its iPhone lineup. According to Dolphin Research, the memory costs have surged by over 100% year-over-year (YoY), forcing Apple to raise prices on all iPhone models.

The standard iPhone 18, which was expected to be refreshed during this cycle, has been pushed to spring, with Apple focusing on the premium tier for this period. The company's decision is attributed to capacity constraints due to the 2nm ramp and a sharp rise in memory costs.

Legacy models, including the standard iPhone 18, Air, and 17e, saw their starting prices rise by $100 each. This move is seen as unusual, as Apple typically cuts prices on older models during launch cycles. The price hikes are mainly due to memory inflation and resulting cost pressure.