iPhone 18 Pro is just two months away, but you probably shouldn’t wait for it
The next iPhone lineup is around the corner, but the base model iPhone 18 won't be making an appearance. The iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the all-new foldable iPhone will be released in September, but with a major price hike.
Intelligence analysis by Llama
The iPhone 18 Pro will be a modest upgrade from the iPhone 17 Pro, with a smaller Dynamic Island, a variable aperture main camera, and Apple's C2 modem. However, the price hike is expected to be significant, with estimates suggesting an up to $300 increase.
Imagine you're waiting for a new iPhone, but the price is going up. It's like waiting for a new toy, but it's going to cost more money. You might want to think about buying the old iPhone instead, because it's still a good phone and it's cheaper.
Analysis
A $60B Vote of Confidence
The next iPhone lineup is around the corner, and it's going to be a different one. The base model iPhone 18 won't be making an appearance quite yet, as that model has been shifted to a spring release schedule. This September will squarely be on the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the all-new foldable iPhone. Of course, there's one major elephant in the room: price hikes. It's inevitable that the iPhone 18 Pro lineup will cost more, which begs the question – is buying an iPhone 17 Pro at today's prices a good idea?
Why Cursor?
The iPhone 18 Pro is gonna be a modest upgrade from iPhone 17 Pro, though I wouldn't call it an 'S year' at all. There's a few headlining features: a smaller Dynamic Island, a variable aperture main camera for granular control over depth of field, a new array of color options (including a red colorway), and Apple's C2 modem – the first for a Pro iPhone, which'll also bring 5G connectivity over satellite. iPhone 18 Pro Max will be getting thicker and packing a much larger battery, which combined with the C2 modem, should yield some incredible battery gains. There will be your usual chip upgrades, with the A20 Pro (first generation 2nm chip), and the N2 networking chip. iPhone 18 Pro is expected to retain 12GB of RAM, just like its predecessor. Apple will also be redesigning Camera Control to be less prone to accidental engagements. Apple will likely find ways of surprising us with additional upgrades, but this is what's known so far.
The Road Ahead
Now, this is the major point of contention. Apple has already massively increased prices on its iPad and Mac lineup, and warned of additional price hikes coming in the future. It's almost a guarantee that the iPhone 18 Pro lineup will cost more. How much more, exactly? It's hard to know. Some estimates suggest an up to $300 price hike, though Apple could go lower and take a hit on their margins. I'd expect the base model iPhone 18 Pro to cost somewhere between $1199 and $1399, and between $1299 and $1499 for iPhone 18 Pro Max. This is going to be a major price hike to stomach for most people, especially when the new iPhones will have little to show for the dramatic price increase. Should you buy now? Of course, it's up to you. Personally, I'd say the iPhone 17 Pro will largely be just as good of a new phone purchase as the iPhone 18 Pro will be, and the 17 Pro will cost less. That's hard to argue with. Apple hasn't yet increased the prices of the iPhone lineup, so you can still purchase an iPhone 17 Pro today for $1099, and an iPhone 17 Pro Max for $1199. If you have an older iPhone and are eyeing an upgrade, it's likely most sensible to buy last year's iPhones, even this late into the release cycle. This AI datacenter driven memory crisis will likely last for a couple more years, so it'll be a while before we see Apple product prices start to come back down. Act accordingly.
Key points
- The iPhone 18 Pro will be a modest upgrade from the iPhone 17 Pro, with a smaller Dynamic Island, a variable aperture main camera, and Apple's C2 modem.
- The price hike of the iPhone 18 Pro lineup is expected to be significant, with estimates suggesting an up to $300 increase.
- It may be more sensible to buy last year's iPhones, even this late into the release cycle, due to the AI datacenter driven memory crisis.
If the iPhone 18 Pro lineup is released with a price hike, it's possible that Apple will offer some incentives or discounts to make up for the increased cost. Additionally, the new features and technologies in the iPhone 18 Pro may be worth the extra expense for some consumers.
The price hike of the iPhone 18 Pro lineup may be a major turn-off for many consumers, leading to decreased sales and revenue for Apple. Additionally, the increased cost may make it difficult for some consumers to afford the new iPhone, potentially leading to a decrease in market share.
Market signals
- Gold Escalation drives safe-haven demand for gold, per the article's framing of investor reaction.
AI-generated analysis of potential market relevance. Not financial advice.
