Multiple Chinese leakers indicate that Apple's iPhone 18 Pro lineup and first foldable iPhone will launch at higher prices than initially expected this September. Fixed Focus Digital claims the foldable model could cost 10% to 20% more than previous estimates, while Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports it will exceed the $2,000 threshold in the US.

Digital Chat Station suggests the iPhone 18 Pro could start at 9,999 yuan in China, up from 8,999 yuan for the iPhone 17 Pro. Instant Digital floated even steeper numbers, with the iPhone 18 Pro Max potentially reaching 11,499 yuan. If these increases mirror US pricing, the base model could start around $1,220, with the Pro Max hitting $1,300 to $1,400.

Component costs appear to be driving these increases. TechInsights estimates iPhone 18 Pro DRAM costs will jump from $39 to $145, raising the total bill of materials by roughly 25%. The Wall Street Journal projects a starting price of $1,399 or higher for the iPhone 18 Pro.

Apple just raised prices on most devices, citing memory and storage chip costs as a 'hundred year flood.' CEO Tim Cook confirmed these increases were unavoidable, marking a shift from Apple's historical practice of absorbing component cost swings rather than passing them to consumers.