RAM chip crisis increases the manufacturing cost of the iPhone 18 Pro by 38%
The future iPhone 18 Pro could see a 38% increase in manufacturing costs for Apple. This increase suggests a possible impact on the final price of the device, with market estimates indicating values close to US$1,399, equivalent to around R$7,145, according to the current price. However, the expectation is that the company will choose to absorb part of this cost, reducing its profit margin rather than passing the entire amount on to the consumer.
Additionally, the iPhone 17 Pro model may also increase in price, although no formal changes have been announced. The specialized press points to the shortage of RAM as the central reason for this situation, although other stages of the production process would also be under influence.
Information suggests that Apple may adopt a similar tactic to that used on MacBooks, with a partial adjustment in the final cost. However, manufacturing expenses could escalate further in 2027, exceeding the initial 38%, which would make it difficult for the company to maintain attractive prices, as indicated by market analysis.
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Why the shortage of RAM chips is the main cause of the increase
Apple stands out as one of the few corporations in the technology sector that has not yet implemented substantial adjustments to its values in recent months. Even after CEO Tim Cook’s statement, which classified such adjustments as “inevitable”, the brand’s smartphone line, for example, did not undergo any changes. So far, only computer lines, such as Mac Mini and Mac Studio, have shown some movement, but experts were already predicting increases starting with the next iPhone crop.
Now, based on a released report, this upward trend is intensifying due to the rise in production costs. According to the study, RAM memory is largely responsible, accounting for 34% of the total assembly expense. If the shortage persists at the same intensity, chips could reach more than 40% of the total value in making the smartphone.
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Given this scenario, spending would exceed the 38% increase initially projected, already in the first fiscal quarter of 2027. Apple is scheduled for a second launch period between March and June of next year, when the standard iPhone 18 should be introduced to the market.
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Older iPhone models and other smartphones may also be affected
To assimilate this significant increase without drastically increasing the value of its premium device, Apple could fragment this burden among other product lines. The iPhone 17 Pro, for example, is one of the first to feel the effects of this readjustment, with an impact expected in the second week of August. Until this investigation was completed, the price indicated on Apple’s official website remained unchanged.
One of the alerts issued points to an even more complex scenario for Android models in the following months. The high costs should manifest themselves more clearly, especially in entry-level or mid-range smartphones, segments in which producers’ profit margins are narrower.
The lack of RAM memory has become a global issue in the technology market. The concentration of memory producing companies on components intended for artificial intelligence servers has resulted in a reduction in the availability of chips for other hardware products. This situation impacted several sectors, from computing to the world of video games, causing delays and increased development costs for future releases, such as the long-awaited PlayStation 6.
