Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iPhone 18 Pro Will Reportedly Start With 256GB of Storage

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster


While the iPhone 17 Pro has double the base storage compared to the iPhone 16 Pro, there will apparently be no further increase this year.

iPhone-18-Pro-Dark-Cherry-Feature.jpg

In a report this week estimating that the iPhone 18 Pro's bill of materials will be nearly 40% higher than the iPhone 17 Pro, Taiwanese research firm TrendForce said the iPhone 18 Pro will start with 256GB of storage, matching the iPhone 17 Pro's minimum capacity. The report did not explicitly mention the iPhone 18 Pro Max, but the Pro and Pro Max models have started with the same amount of storage for the past two generations.

Minimum storage capacities by model:
  • iPhone 16 Pro: 128GB
  • iPhone 17 Pro: 256GB
  • iPhone 18 Pro (rumored): 256GB
Even though it does not expect an increase in base storage, TrendForce said that retail price increases for the iPhone 18 Pro models are "unavoidable" due to increased costs for components. RAM costs have increased significantly due to the ongoing memory chip shortage, and prices for storage and A20 Pro chips are also expected to be higher.

According to reports, iPhone 18 Pro starting prices in the U.S. could be $200 to $300 higher compared to iPhone 17 Pro starting prices. If so, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max could start at up to $1,399 and $1,499, respectively.

In June, Apple raised prices on all Macs and iPads, as well as the Apple TV, HomePod, HomePod mini, and Vision Pro. The increases ranged from $30 for the HomePod mini to up to $1,300 for a high-end Mac Studio configuration.

Apple said it raised prices because of the ongoing memory chip shortage, resulting from companies building out data centers with powerful AI servers. The supply-demand imbalance has led to skyrocketing prices for RAM and SSD storage chips used in a wide range of Apple products, and Apple has now passed those costs on to customers.

Apple CEO Tim Cook previously commented that price increases were "unavoidable" due to "a hundred-year flood" on memory pricing.

Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 18 Pro models in September.

Article Link: iPhone 18 Pro Will Reportedly Start With 256GB of Storage
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/11/iphone-18-pro-base-256gb-storage-report/
The leading rumours of the 19 Pro are higher price and new color. Hopefully Apple has something up their sleeve that has not leaked...or they are banking on enough people wanting to spend 2x on the folding phone.

Seems like it may be a good opportunity to jump to a 17 Pro on discount when the 18 Pro drops.
 
Was not at all expecting to see an increase in base storage. Don't think base storage of any iPhone/iPad/Mac will increase especially when prices of RAM/SSD are increasing. Apple still sells the 256GB iMac and Mac mini and think it is possible for it to continue even when they get chip upgrades. Foldable iPhone too should start at 256GB. Upgrading to higher memory variants could be costlier than how it is today.
 
It's far easier to sell customers on a price hike when they increase the base storage. $200-$300 hike with no RAM or storage increase is insane and just shows how bad things are now.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Crow_Servo
I wonder if this version of Siri will let me say "turn off the lights" without it listing every light in my home? Even if it does, I'm not sure it's worth upgrading from my 15 Pro :-/
 
macbookj0e said:
Price increases are not "unavoidable" it's just companies are "unwilling" to meet consumers half way and eat into their margins. We are paying for the situation most of them created.
Click to expand...

I dunno. Seems like everything I buy these days from gas to groceries is more expensive. Nothing is certainly getting CHEAPER. That's been going on for over 4 years now. Every raise I get is eaten away by price increases of some sort. Then the powers that be cut all the overtime and it was a double slap in the face.

Now, I don't disagree with you on the notion that most corporations are greedy bastards and are sticking it to people. But that's like admonishing a cat for killing birds. It's what they do. It's the very center of corporate existance. Which is why I didn't last there long after college (insurance company gig, not sales. Compliance). I couldn't take the unfettered worship of the almighty dollar.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Fred Zed
MacRumors said:
The report did not explicitly mention the iPhone 18 Pro Max, but the Pro and Pro Max models have started with the same amount of storage for the past two generations.
Click to expand...
Incorrect. Pro Max models have started with 256gb since the 15 Pro Max but Pro models have only started with 256gb from the 17 Pro.
 
My 128GB 15 Pro bursting at the seams is primarily why I'm upgrading this cycle. Those AI models are no joke when it comes to storage.

Going forward, I keep my iOS devices at 256gb and Macs at 1TB.
 
IMO 256gb seems to be the sweet spot for a iPhone. My iPhone 12 Pro Max had 256gb as upgraded, but barely ran past 1/2 the storage.
 
IIGS User said:
I dunno. Seems like everything I buy these days from gas to groceries is more expensive. Nothing is certainly getting CHEAPER. That's been going on for over 4 years now. Every raise I get is eaten away by price increases of some sort. Then the powers that be cut all the overtime and it was a double slap in the face.

Now, I don't disagree with you on the notion that most corporations are greedy bastards and are sticking it to people. But that's like admonishing a cat for killing birds. It's what they do. It's the very center of corporate existance. Which is why I didn't last there long after college (insurance company gig, not sales. Compliance). I couldn't take the unfettered worship of the almighty dollar.
Click to expand...
And add to the fact that there is little to no consumer or employment laws makes it so much easier for them to exploit.
 
$1299 for pro feels right.

You really want to feel like you’re spending lots of money on a quality product, and really feel that premium weight of several hundred dollars.

Like a functional gold brick, perhaps.

😆

(To be serious, isn’t there a psychological sales concept of feeling like the product is worth it the more money you spend on it?)
 
With the storage prices being that high they may consider to introduce a 64 GB entry level version again and 8.5 GB ram. Perhaps 8.25gb. My sources were not really clear on that.

🔮
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back