The iPhone 18 Pro Max Could Start at $1,300, an Analyst Predicts. You Can Thank RAMageddon for That

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We’re days away from Apple’s “Surprise and shine” event, where we expect the tech giant to unveil its first foldable iPhone (which could be called the iPhone Ultra), along with the premium models of the iPhone 18. You can expect better battery life and a variable aperture camera. But that’s not what everyone really wants.

When we asked CNET readers one thing they’d change about the iPhone in our Big Guessing Game, 16% said they want it to cost less. But that’s wishful thinking.

TrendForce, a global market research firm, released a report on Thursday suggesting you can expect higher prices instead of steep discounts. The firm expects the iPhone 18 series to cost 10 to 20% more due to the ongoing RAM shortage and higher hardware costs.

“For the 256GB Pro model, memory costs in [the third quarter of 2026] are expected to be nearly 400% higher...

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