Anticipation is building around the launch of Apple's iPhone 18 Pro series, particularly regarding its pricing. While Apple CEO Tim Cook has acknowledged that rising costs could make price increases “unavoidable” for consumer electronics, a recent forecast by J.P. Morgan offers a more optimistic outlook for potential buyers.
Modest Price Adjustments Expected
Contrary to earlier fears of a significant price surge, J.P. Morgan's analysis, as shared by analyst Max Weinbach, suggests that the iPhone 18 Pro models may not be as expensive as initially thought. The report predicts a modest price hike in the range of $50 to $100 for the new flagship iPhones.
For context, the current iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max launched at approximately Rs 1,34,900 and Rs 1,49,900, respectively. Based on the J.P. Morgan forecast, Indian consumers could see an increase of Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000.
Projected iPhone 18 Pro Series Pricing in India
- iPhone 18 Pro: Estimated between Rs 1,40,000 and Rs 1,45,000.
- iPhone 18 Pro Max: Estimated between Rs 1,55,000 and Rs 1,60,000.
These figures are forecasts, and the exact pricing will only be confirmed by Apple at launch.
Factors Influencing Price Hikes
While Apple aims to mitigate cost increases, Cook noted that “the situation has become unsustainable” regarding absorbing rising expenses. Unconfirmed reports suggest that increases in the cost of crucial components like RAM, storage, and advanced camera modules, alongside the integration of powerful AI-focused hardware, are contributing factors to the expected price adjustments for the next-generation iPhones.
Launch Timeline for New iPhone Models
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are reportedly set for a September 2026 launch. However, the standard iPhone 18 model, along with potential iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2 variants, may debut later, possibly in March 2027.