Report claims iPhone 18's A10 chip will be much more expensive to manufacture, which could impact final price
Amid rumors about the iPhone 17 and the supposed futuristic iPhone 17 “Air,” news about the iPhone 18 is coming, and it's not good. We know that the iPhone 18 chip will make a significant leap from 3nm to 2nm. But this jump it won't be cheap.
Apple uses the latest technologies to manufacture its chips thanks to TSMC. Its alliance with the Taiwanese company guarantees it to offer the the fastest chips in the worldbeing a pioneer in the launch of 5, 4 or 3nm chips. The A17 Pro was the world's first chip manufactured in 3nm, the A18 Pro uses a new 3nm process, and the upcoming A19 Pro in the iPhone 17 Pro will use an improved process, but remain 3nm.
The big leap will take place in 2026, when the alleged A20 Pro from the iPhone 18 Pro will be manufactured using a process of only 2nm. But industry estimates indicate that making this chip will cost 70% more than current chips.
The A20 chip will be much more expensive, will Apple make its iPhone 18 more expensive?
It appears that the A20 chip will be the most expensive ever installed in an iPhone. The typical price of current iPhone chips is around $50, so a 70% increase would leave the price of A20 chip in the iPhone 18 Pro at $85about $35 more.
The iPhone 18 could arrive with big improvements and with a price increase
Apple The price of the iPhone has barely changed since the iPhone launchedand many years have passed since then. Even though the price hasn't changed, it costs more every year to make an iPhone, which means Apple is taking on that higher cost. The iPhone 16 Pro Max was the most expensive to make in history, but Apple kept the price the same.
However, this cannot be forever. When you add in the higher manufacturing costs that arrive each year with a $35 increase just for the chip, it's likely that Apple must increase the price of the iPhone 18 Pro whether you want to keep your profit margin more or less as it is now.
It is likely that Normal iPhone 18s don't have this problem and the A20 chip they use continues to be manufactured in a 3nm process, like current ones. Apple could thus maintain a low price on entry models and only increase that of the iPhone Pro. Even if there is still a lot of time to present the iPhone 18, anything can happen.
We've also heard some other interesting rumors about the 2026 iPhone, in addition to this possible price increase. The iPhone 18 is rumored to pack in more RAM for new Apple Intelligence features, the foldable iPhone could be part of the lineup, we've also heard major rumors about the iPhone 18 Pro's cameras as well as the possible elimination of the Dynamic Island by complete.
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