199: The iPhone 18 Could Cost WAY More

This week’s episode of The MacRumors Show focuses on Apple’s surprise price hikes, the potential impact on the iPhone 18 lineup, new Apple Watch Ultra 4 rumors, and camera-equipped AirPods coming in 2027.

00:51 Apple Price Hikes Overview
02:00 iPhone 18 Price Hike Expectations
03:58 RAM/Storage Cost Breakdown
09:36 Why Upgrading Yearly Isn’t Necessary
11:49 When Could Price Hikes Hit?
16:30 Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 Rumors
21:05 Apple Watch Health Features and Market Plateau
24:24 Should Apple Slow Down Annual Watch Releases?
33:18 iPhone 18 Pro: Colors and Durability
34:50 Foldable iPhone Launch Timing and Demand
38:11 AirPods With Cameras

Apple has raised prices across nearly its entire product lineup, including Macs, iPads, Apple TV, HomePod, and Vision Pro, citing soaring RAM and flash storage costs driven by AI infrastructure demand. Price increases ranged from $30 to as much as $1,300, while iPhones, AirPods, Studio Display, and accessories were left unchanged for now. Apple also brought back the 256GB Mac mini at a higher $799 price.

Those same component costs could lead to significant iPhone 18 Pro price increases this fall. Industry estimates suggest Apple may need to raise prices by around $270 to maintain margins, with the iPhone 18 Pro potentially starting around $1,399 and the Pro Max around $1,499, partly due to more expensive camera hardware.

The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to retain its aluminum design while introducing new colors, including a signature Dark Cherry finish, though reports suggest the finishes could be prone to chipping similar to last year’s models.

Apple is still expected to launch the iPhone 18 lineup alongside its first foldable iPhone, tentatively called the iPhone Ultra, in September. The foldable is rumored to feature a 7.8-inch inner display, 5.5-inch outer display, A20 chip, C2 modem, Touch ID, dual rear cameras, and a starting price around $2,000.

The episode also covers rumors that the Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Apple Watch Series 12 will debut this fall with faster processors and new watch faces in watchOS 27.

Finally, Apple has reportedly delayed its camera-equipped AirPods to 2027. Rather than taking photos or videos, the embedded cameras will feed visual information to Siri for object recognition, contextual assistance, reminders, and navigation. The delay is reportedly due to Apple’s ongoing AI development challenges.

00:51 Apple Price Hikes Overview
02:00 iPhone 18 Price Hike Expectations
03:58 RAM/Storage Cost Breakdown
09:36 Why Upgrading Yearly Isn’t Necessary
11:49 When Could Price Hikes Hit?
16:30 Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 Rumors
21:05 Apple Watch Health Features and Market Plateau
24:24 Should Apple Slow Down Annual Watch Releases?
33:18 iPhone 18 Pro: Colors and Durability
34:50 Foldable iPhone Launch Timing and Demand
38:11 AirPods With Cameras