Apple could be preparing to raise the price of its next flagship smartphone, according to a new leak from tipster Smart Pikachu. The claim suggests the iPhone 18 Pro Max may launch with a noticeably higher starting price in China compared to its predecessor, potentially making it Apple’s most expensive traditional, non-folding iPhone to date. According to the leak, this reported price increase is tied to rising manufacturing costs linked to next-generation chip technology and memory pricing. Apple has not officially announced pricing or confirmed any details about the upcoming device.
A Reported CNY 11,000 Starting Price
According to Smart Pikachu’s post on Weibo, the iPhone 18 Pro Max could start at CNY 11,000, roughly Rs. 1,56,700, in China. If accurate, that would put the device around CNY 1,000, approximately Rs. 14,200, more expensive than the current iPhone 17 Pro Max, making it Apple’s priciest non-folding iPhone released so far.
At that price point, the iPhone 18 Pro Max would land in similar territory to several premium foldable smartphones currently available in the Chinese market, a notable comparison given that foldables have traditionally carried a significant price premium over standard flagship phones.
Why Prices Could Be Rising: Chip and Memory Costs
The reported price increase appears closely tied to rising production costs, with Apple’s upcoming A20 Pro chip and memory pricing cited as the primary contributing factors. The chip is expected to be manufactured using TSMC’s 2nm process, which would make the iPhone 18 Pro Max the first Apple smartphone to use this newer, more advanced manufacturing technology.
Industry estimates suggest TSMC’s 2nm wafers cost approximately $30,000 each, roughly 50 to 66 percent more expensive than current 3nm wafers. As a result, this first generation of flagship chips built on the 2nm process is expected to cost more than 20 percent more to manufacture compared to existing 3nm chips, a substantial jump that manufacturers may need to pass along to consumers in some form.
A Broader Industry-Wide Price Trend
Apple wouldn’t be alone in raising prices this year. Several smartphone brands have already implemented price increases across their lineups, with mid-range devices reportedly becoming CNY 300 to CNY 800, roughly Rs. 4,300 to Rs. 11,400, more expensive. Some flagship devices have seen even steeper increases, with reported price hikes exceeding CNY 1,000, around Rs. 14,200, in certain cases.
This broader trend suggests rising component costs, particularly around advanced chip manufacturing and memory pricing, are affecting the smartphone industry as a whole, not just Apple specifically.
What This Could Mean for the iPhone 18 Lineup
Apple hasn’t changed pricing across its current iPhone 17 series, but according to this latest report, the company could revise pricing for the upcoming iPhone 18 lineup if component costs remain elevated heading into production. Given the scale of the reported 2nm chip cost increase, it wouldn’t be surprising if Apple ultimately passes at least some of that cost onto consumers, particularly for its top-tier Pro Max model.
Adding another layer to this year’s iPhone lineup speculation, Apple is also rumored to be preparing its first foldable iPhone, expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro series. If both a price increase and a new foldable device arrive in the same generation, this could mark one of the more significant shifts in Apple’s iPhone pricing and lineup strategy in recent years.
As with all pre-launch pricing leaks, these figures remain unconfirmed until Apple makes an official announcement, and final China pricing especially can shift based on currency fluctuations, tariffs, or last-minute cost adjustments during production.
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