Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro may avoid the dramatic price jump some buyers had feared, but the latest pricing tip comes with a catch. While the entry-level Pro models could become only $100 more expensive, choosing additional storage may make the upgrade considerably harder on the wallet.

The iPhone 18 Pro is tipped to start at $1,199, compared with $1,099 for the iPhone 17 Pro. The iPhone 18 Pro Max could similarly move from $1,199 to $1,299. That would mean a $100 increase for both entry-level Pro models.

On its own, that sounds like relatively good news. Earlier forecasts had raised the possibility of the iPhone 18 Pro starting at $1,299 or even $1,399, which would have represented a far steeper increase over its predecessor. The latest pricing indication instead suggests Apple could limit the starting-price increase to $100.

But the starting price may not tell the whole story.

The Real iPhone 18 Pro Price Problem Could Begin With Storage

The more uncomfortable part of the latest pricing picture concerns buyers who do not stick with the base storage configuration.

Previous reports suggest the 256GB versions of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max could rise by $100, while models with 512GB, 1TB or more storage could become $150 to $200 more expensive. The larger increases have been linked to pressure from memory component costs.

That creates an unusual split in the iPhone 18 Pro pricing story.

A shopper looking only at the advertised starting price could see a manageable $100 increase. Someone who regularly buys a higher-capacity Pro model, however, could be facing as much as twice that increase.

For those buyers, the headline $1,199 figure may therefore be the least important number.

Why a $100 Increase Could Still Count as the Better Outcome

The latest indication is considerably less severe than some earlier predictions.

A move from $1,099 to $1,199 would amount to roughly a 9 percent increase for the iPhone 18 Pro. Earlier forecasts had pointed toward increases of between $200 and $300.

Apple is considering how Samsung and Google have responded to higher component costs. Their latest flagship phones received price increases of around $100, and Apple could take a similar approach with its new Pro models. The Pixel 11 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S26+ are both listed at starting prices of $1,099 in the report.

Apple is facing another issue of increased prices of components and margin pressure. The pricing signal implies that there is a chance that Apple will not pass on all the increased costs to its customers but share them.

That would explain why the entry-level increase could remain at $100 even after more aggressive price forecasts circulated earlier.

iPhone 18 Pro Max Could Follow the Same Pattern

The same pricing structure could apply to the larger Pro Max.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max is tipped to start at $1,299, up from $1,199 for the previous-generation model. That again represents a $100 increase at the starting level.

Higher-storage configurations are where buyers may need to pay closer attention once official pricing is announced.

If the pricing pattern holds, the decision between storage tiers could carry a noticeably larger financial consequence this generation. Instead of every configuration rising by the same amount, the premium could become progressively steeper for buyers who need additional capacity.

So, What’s Actually the Bad News About the iPhone 18 Pro?

The bad news is not simply that the iPhone 18 Pro could become more expensive.

It is that the relatively modest $100 increase attached to the expected $1,199 starting price may not reflect what many Pro buyers ultimately pay.

Anyone satisfied with the 256GB version could face the smaller increase currently being tipped. Buyers moving to 512GB, 1TB or higher capacities could instead be looking at an additional $150 to $200 over comparable previous-generation pricing.

That distinction could make storage selection one of the most important factors in the iPhone 18 Pro buying decision.

There is still a positive side. If the latest pricing information proves accurate, Apple may avoid the $200 to $300 entry-level increase that earlier forecasts had suggested. For buyers interested in the base Pro model, the final starting price could therefore be less severe than initially feared.

For higher-storage buyers, the picture is much less reassuring.

Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 18 series in September, when the final pricing structure should become clearer.

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