Apple may raise gadget prices again due to rising memory costs

Apple may raise prices for its latest gadgets, such as the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, as a result of rising memory costs that may take effect next year.

As reported by GSM Arena on Thursday (17/9) local time, Apple previously implemented price hikes when releasing the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, with device prices being $100 (approximately Rp1.7 million) more expensive than the previous generation for the same series in 2025.

However, additional price increases appear unavoidable as Apple is one of the companies reportedly renegotiating the prices of DRAM (dynamic random access memory) and NAND storage memory with Samsung, the memory manufacturer. Samsung and Apple appear to have already reached an agreement regarding these new prices.

By comparison, Samsung’s prices for both memory solutions in the third quarter of 2026 are $1.5 (approximately Rp26,000) for RAM and $0.26 (approximately Rp4,000) for NAND, respectively, for the same capacity.

Apple is not the only smartphone manufacturer being called back to the negotiating table by Samsung. Interestingly, Oppo and vivo are reported to have rejected the higher prices requested by Samsung.

Due to these failed negotiations, tech enthusiasts may have to wait for the teardown of the next vivo and Oppo flagship phones to discover which alternative suppliers they have chosen.