Analysts expect $200 iPhone 18 Pro price hike this fall

Foldable iPhone could reach $2,500

Apple is expected to unveil its fall hardware lineup in September, with analysts projecting a $200 price increase on the iPhone 18 Pro and a foldable iPhone priced around $2,500, according to analysts cited in The Wall Street Journal.

The price hike on the Pro model — in line with projections from research firm TechInsights — would be one of the largest single-generation jumps in iPhone pricing. The memory-chip shortage, driven by AI hyperscalers buying up global supply, has already forced Apple to raise prices on its MacBook Air, Pro, and Neo lines, as well as iPad Air and Pro models. MSI previously reported that Apple CEO Tim Cook described price increases as “unavoidable” given the component cost environment.

The foldable iPhone, anticipated alongside the Pro models in September, would enter a market already occupied by Samsung and Google Pixel foldables. Francisco Jeronimo, vice president of client devices at IDC, told the Journal the folding device would cost roughly $2,500. Analysts including Ming-Chi Kuo and Mark Gurman have previously estimated a foldable iPhone could start at $2,000 or more.

Apple might not launch the next-generation base iPhone or the superthin iPhone Air until spring 2027, Jeronimo said, with a $100 markup on those models. A staggered release would let Apple spread its manufacturing and memory-chip demands across the year, according to Lexuan Chiew, research manager at Omdia.

For buyers who don’t need the latest features, analysts said the iPhone 17 — expected to remain at its current $799 starting price after the iPhone 18 launches — or the more affordable iPhone 17e offer alternatives. Bob O’Brien, a director at Counterpoint Research, told the Journal he believes Apple will continue selling the iPhone 17 at its current price even after the new lineup arrives.

The fall event is also expected to include new Apple Watch models. The Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 are imminent, said David Naranjo, associate director at Counterpoint Research. He described the update as a modest hardware upgrade with a new processor that should improve performance, battery life, and AI features.

On iPads, analysts said the iPad Pro models with the M5 chip, released last October, are safe to buy now. The iPad Air received a chip upgrade in March. The iPad Mini, last refreshed in October 2024, may get a new OLED display model this year, Naranjo said, citing supply-chain sources.

On Macs, the latest MacBook Air and Neo models came out this year, and Apple announced chip upgrades to higher-end Pro models, though not the base 14-inch Pro. Analysts said desktop Macs — the Mac Studio, Mac Mini, and iMac — are due for updates. A buying frenzy around the Mac Mini and Mac Studio driven by demand for AI agent workloads has left Apple struggling to keep up with orders.

AirPods are safe to buy across all models, the analysts said. No new versions are expected this year. The AirPods Pro were refreshed last year with better noise cancellation and battery life, and the over-ear AirPods Max 2 launched in March.

For HomePod buyers, analysts advised waiting. The current models are years old, and Apple is rolling out a revamped, more personalized Siri AI in beta to English-language users later this year. Jeronimo said he is not certain Siri is ready for a HomePod experience, but that it is worth holding out for a compatible speaker.