Apple iPhone 18 Pro is expected to launch with 256 GB of storage
While the iPhone 17 Pro offers double the base storage compared to the iPhone 16 Pro, further storage expansion will apparently not be available this year. A report published this week, which estimates the material costs of the iPhone 18 Pro to be almost 40% higher than those of the iPhone 17 Pro, stated that the Taiwanese market research firm TrendForce indicated that the iPhone 18 Pro will launch with 256GB of storage, just like the iPhone 17 Pro.
The report did not explicitly mention the iPhone 18 Pro Max, but the Pro and Pro Max models of the last two generations started with the same storage capacity.
Minimum storage capacities by model
- iPhone 16 Pro: 128 GB
- iPhone 17 Pro: 256 GB
- iPhone 18 Pro: 256 GB (rumored)
TrendForce does not expect an increase in base memory, but considers price increases for the iPhone 18 Pro models “inevitable” due to rising component costs. RAM costs have risen significantly due to the ongoing memory chip shortage, and prices for memory and A20 Pro chips are also expected to be higher.
Reports indicate that the starting price for the iPhone 18 Pro in the US could be $200 to $300 higher than that of the iPhone 17 Pro. This would mean the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max would be available from $1,399 and $1,499, respectively. In Germany, this would translate to starting prices of up to €1,599.
In June, Apple raised prices for all Macs and iPads, as well as Apple TV, HomePod, HomePod mini, and Vision Pro. The price increases ranged from $30 for the HomePod mini to $1,300 for a high-end Mac Studio configuration.
Apple justified the price increases by citing the ongoing shortage of memory chips caused by the expansion of high-performance AI servers in data centers. The imbalance between supply and demand led to a rapid price increase for RAM and SSD memory chips, which are used in numerous Apple products. Apple is now passing these costs on to its customers.
Apple CEO Tim Cook had previously stated that price increases were “inevitable” due to a “once-in-a-century flood” of memory prices.
New iOS 27 beta references iPhone 18 Pro and five other unreleased iPhone models
Furthermore, Macworld reported today that the iOS 27 Beta 5, released to developers on Monday, contains hidden code that reveals six unreleased iPhone models – although you’ve probably heard of them before.
The following references, along with references to existing iPhone models, were reportedly found in system files related to the iPhone’s battery drivers and Battery Intelligence features:
- V62 – iPhone Air 2
- V63 – iPhone 18 Pro
- V64 – iPhone 18 Pro Max
- V67 – iPhone 18
- V68 – iPhone Ultra
- V69 – iPhone 18e
This is the first time the entire iPhone 18 series has been mentioned in the code of the iOS 27 beta. More precisely, the references found are the codes in bold; the names (which are derived from them) are not included. However, these internal Apple identifiers have already appeared in previous leaks or have been used by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his reports, so they can be associated with the expected iPhone models.
Apple has not yet officially confirmed the existence of upcoming iPhone models. However, rumors about the new devices have been circulating for several months. The market launch is expected to differ from previous releases: The iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and the foldable iPhone Ultra will be unveiled in September. The regular iPhone 18 will be released for the first time in spring 2027, along with the iPhone 18e and the iPhone Air 2.
