Technology
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iPhone 18 Pro BOM seen 38 percent higher
AI Weekly··11 Aug
TrendForce estimates the 256GB iPhone 18 Pro bill of materials will run about 38 percent higher year on year than the prior Pro model. Memory's share of Pro BOM rose from around 10 percent a year ago to roughly 34 percent in Q3 2026. DRAM and NAND prices have climbed five- to sevenfold since early 2025.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Premium phone shoppers can watch whether higher memory costs show up in 2026 and 2027 launch pricing.
- Buyers of cheaper Android models may see sharper price moves if brands cannot absorb the memory spike.
- Anyone tracking hardware costs can note memory's jump from about 10 percent to 34 percent of Pro BOM.
What's Happening
- TrendForce pegs the 256GB iPhone 18 Pro BOM about 38 percent above the previous Pro generation.
- Memory now accounts for roughly 34 percent of that BOM in Q3 2026 after multi-fold price rises since early 2025.
- The research note says Apple may give up some margin rather than pass through the full increase.
When Memory Pricing Becomes the Swing Variable
- Component inflation is concentrated in DRAM and NAND rather than displays or processors in this estimate.
- Apple's MacBook response is cited as a template for protecting shipment volume over full pass-through.
- Global smartphone production is expected to stay under pressure from late 2026 through 2027.
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