Apple may be preparing for another round of price increases for its iPhones in 2027, with a recent deal with Samsung for memory components cited as a primary factor. Industry reports indicate that Samsung has significantly raised the prices for its DRAM and NAND storage, which could lead to higher manufacturing costs for future iPhone models.
Potential Price Hikes for 2027 iPhones
According to a DigiTimes report, Apple has entered into an agreement with Samsung for essential memory components. However, the South Korean tech giant has reportedly increased its pricing for these components. This means Apple will incur higher costs for the DRAM (dynamic random-access memory) and NAND flash storage used in its smartphones. These elevated component costs are likely to be transferred to consumers through higher iPhone prices starting in 2027.
This potential increase follows previous price adjustments. The iPhone 18 Pro series, for example, saw a substantial global price hike, with India experiencing one of the most significant jumps. Older models like the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, and iPhone 16 also underwent price revisions.
Rising Memory Component Costs
Starting from Q1 2027, Apple is expected to pay more for the memory integrated into its iPhones. The cost for LPDDR5X RAM is projected to rise from $1.56 per gigabyte (GB) to $2 per GB, representing approximately a 28% increase. Similarly, NAND storage prices are anticipated to climb from $0.26 per GB to $0.33 per GB, a roughly 27% jump.
To illustrate the impact, consider an iPhone equipped with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. At the new rates, the 12GB of RAM alone would cost Apple $24, while the 256GB of NAND storage would amount to $84.48. This brings the total memory cost for such a device to $108.48, meaning memory components could cost Apple over $100 per iPhone.
Uncertainty Amid Market Pressures
While these reports suggest Apple might implement another price hike, potentially adding around $100 to the cost of future iPhones, the company has not yet officially confirmed any such plans. The market continues to exert pressure on smartphone pricing, particularly in regions like India, where recent iPhone models have seen substantial increases. For instance, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max experienced a steep Rs 30,000 price hike, and the iPhone Air saw adjustments of up to 41%.
With the anticipated launch of the iPhone 18 and iPhone Air 2 next year, Apple faces ongoing challenges in balancing component costs with competitive pricing strategies.