Will the iPhone 18 Become the Most Expensive Ever? Apple Bows to Soaring Memory Prices [IT Item of the Day]

[Financial News] Apple has effectively signaled that it will raise product prices, unable to withstand the sharp rise in memory prices driven by the artificial intelligence (AI) boom. The iPhone 18 series, set to be unveiled in the second half of this year, as well as major product lines such as the MacBook and iPad, are likely to see price increases.
According to the IT industry on the 19th, Apple CEO Tim Cook recently told The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) in an interview, "Unfortunately, price increases are unavoidable," adding, "We have tried to absorb as much of the cost increases passed on from our supply chain as possible, but we can no longer sustain it."
Although Cook did not mention the exact size or timing of any increase, the industry expects the iPhone 18 series, due out this fall, to be the first product affected. In particular, with Apple's first foldable iPhone expected to debut and the added burden of higher memory prices, some forecasts say the iPhone 18 lineup could become the most expensive in the company's history. New MacBook and iPad models scheduled for release this year are also expected to be affected.
Apple recently pointed to a supply-demand imbalance in DRAM caused by the growth of the AI industry as a major factor. As demand for generative AI servers and data center construction surges, prices for memory chips such as DRAM and NAND flash memory have risen, and that burden is being passed on to finished-goods manufacturers.
Cook emphasized, "There is a shortage of supply at the very time consumers want devices, and memory makers are raising prices dramatically," adding, "For the consumer products market, memory prices and supply need to return to reasonable levels."
He also said of the current memory shortage, "I have been in the industry for more than 40 years, and I have never seen a shortage of component supply like this."
kaya@fnnews.com Choi Hye-rim Reporter