Key takeaways
- A leaker says the base iPhone 18, coming in early 2027, gets a bigger battery, an A20 chip on a 2nm process and a higher price than the iPhone 17, which already went up to $899.
- The Wall Street Journal calculated that Apple charges $600 to go from 256GB to 1TB on the iPhone 18 Pro, while the extra memory costs Apple about $192.
- My view: the bigger battery is just an excuse to raise the price. I think the base iPhone 18 goes up by a full $200.
A leaker on Weibo says the base iPhone 18, due in early 2027, will get a bigger battery and a higher price than the iPhone 17, which costs $899 after a recent $100 increase. At the same time, the Wall Street Journal calculated that Apple charges $600 for the 1TB upgrade on the iPhone 18 Pro, while the memory costs Apple about $192.
In this article: A bigger battery is not an upgrade. It’s an excuse · Every year a little more · Memory is expensive? Then why triple? · My prediction · FAQ
A bigger battery is not an upgrade. It’s an excuse
Let’s turn our brains on. A bigger battery every year is not an upgrade, it’s the minimum. And the leaker didn’t even give a number, not one milliamp-hour.
In my view, Apple gives us that battery for one reason only: so it can raise the price. We already know more price hikes may come. And when they come, Apple will say: “Hey, but look, you get a bigger battery and more storage.” It’s just a trick to have something to defend itself with.
We saw exactly this with the touchscreen MacBook Pro. First they called it a monumental step forward, and when it didn’t work, they started showing us that touch is not the only reason to buy it. The same game, again. This is just greed.
And now that we know in advance that prices may keep rising, I think the base iPhone 18 will not go up by $100 this time, but by a full $200. And Apple will tell us: “We gave you a bigger battery.”
Every year a little more
The iPhone 17 went up by $100 to $899. The iPhone 18 Pro got $100 more expensive. And now the base iPhone 18 too? And this same leaker has been reposting old rumors as new for weeks. I said it in October: I don’t trust one anonymous source. But the price part I believe, because Apple has been doing exactly that all year.
In October I wrote that the classic iPhone 18 will be the hit of 2027, mostly because of the price. People who don’t want to pay $1,100 for a Pro buy the normal one. But if Apple pushes the normal one to $1,099, that whole logic falls apart. Then who is it for?
Memory is expensive? Then why triple?
And now the best part. On the earnings call, Apple complained that memory costs are squeezing its margins. Poor Apple. And on the same day, the Wall Street Journal shows that for the iPhone 18 Pro, Apple charges $600 to go from 256GB to 1TB, while the memory costs it about $192. That’s more than three times.
And a year ago it was even worse: $400 for the same upgrade on the iPhone 17 Pro, when Apple paid $42. Almost ten times.
It’s like a restaurant telling you potatoes got expensive, so the whole menu goes up, while the side of fries still costs you three times what it costs the kitchen. Apple, you can’t cry about memory prices and charge us triple for the same memory at the same time. Pick one.
My prediction
The base iPhone 18 will start at $1,099, a full $200 more than the iPhone 17. Apple will call it “the best value iPhone ever” and point at the bigger battery. And people will buy it, because there is no other iPhone below it except the “e.”
If you’re waiting for the iPhone 18, here’s my advice: buy the base storage and use iCloud or a USB-C drive for the rest. Don’t pay Apple triple for memory.
Also on Evolt News: iPhone 18 base model: the hit of 2027? · Apple’s 85% storage margin · Apple Q4 2026: a record with a price tag
Featured image: Andreas Haslinger / Unsplash.
This article is opinion.
iPhone 18 price and battery: FAQ
When does the base iPhone 18 come out?
Apple launched only the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone Duo in fall 2026. Rumors say the base iPhone 18 comes in early 2027.
Will the iPhone 18 have a bigger battery?
Leaker Digital Chat Station says yes, but gave no capacity. Apple has increased battery capacity in recent models, including the iPhone 18 Pro.
What chip will the iPhone 18 have?
The leak says an A20 chip built on TSMC’s 2-nanometer process, not the A20 Pro used in the Pro models.
How much will the iPhone 18 cost?
Apple has not announced a price. The leaker expects it to cost more than the iPhone 17, which starts at $899 after a $100 increase.
How much does Apple charge for iPhone storage upgrades?
According to the Wall Street Journal, going from 256GB to 1TB on the iPhone 18 Pro costs buyers $600, while the extra memory costs Apple about $192.
I read this news on AppleInsider and 9to5Mac.
Sources: AppleInsider, 9to5Mac, The Wall Street Journal, Apple.
Our Take
The base iPhone 18 may get a bigger battery and a higher price, while the Wall Street Journal shows Apple charges more than three times its cost for storage upgrades. In my opinion, a company that complains about memory costs and then charges triple for memory is not squeezed. It’s greed dressed up as an upgrade.
Buy the base storage and keep your files elsewhere. That is the only upgrade Apple can’t overcharge you for.
