Overview
- GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu projects a $250–$300 US retail bump for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, citing much higher costs for 2nm silicon and DRAM/NAND memory.
- Apple has warned that supply constraints will affect iPhone, Mac and iPad production in the September quarter, a sign early availability for new Pro models could be limited.
- Leaks and analyst notes describe key hardware upgrades under discussion: an A20-series chip built on TSMC’s 2nm node, larger RAM configurations, a variable‑aperture main camera, and a smaller Dynamic Island.
- Pu’s price outlook prompted him to downgrade Apple to Hold, with several outlets noting the move raises near‑term demand risk if Apple passes costs to buyers.
- The price pressure reflects broader industry trends: surging demand for advanced chips and memory from AI infrastructure is raising component bills and complicating Apple’s launch and rollout plans.