iPhone 18 Pro may cost $100 more with 256GB starting storage

Two reports published Aug. 13 and Aug. 15, 2026, say the iPhone 18 Pro could start with 256GB of storage and cost more than the comparable iPhone 17 Pro. Gizmodo Japan reported on Aug. 13 that TrendForce expects a 256GB starting capacity and a possible increase of about ¥50,000. iPhone Mania reported on Aug. 15 that a leaker expects a $100 increase, which would put the Japanese price of the 256GB iPhone 18 Pro at ¥212,800 (about $1,400).

What the reports say

TrendForce's forecast, cited by Gizmodo Japan, would give the iPhone 18 Pro the same starting storage as the current iPhone 17 Pro. The iPhone 16 Pro started at 128GB, while the iPhone 17 Pro moved to 256GB. That means the latest forecast does not add another storage step for the iPhone 18 Pro. Gizmodo Japan reported the TrendForce forecast on Aug. 13.

Gizmodo Japan also cited a forecast that the iPhone 18 Pro could cost about ¥50,000 more than the iPhone 17 Pro. The report linked that possibility to higher random-access memory, or RAM, costs. It did not give a final Apple price. Gizmodo Japan reported that estimate here.

The separate iPhone Mania report describes a $100 increase for the iPhone 18 Pro series compared with the iPhone 17 Pro series. Using Apple's Japan exchange rate, iPhone Mania estimated that increase at ¥18,000. Its table lists the 256GB iPhone 18 Pro at ¥212,800 (about $1,400), compared with ¥194,800 (about $1,300) for the current iPhone 17 Pro with the same capacity. iPhone Mania published that forecast on Aug. 15.

The report also says Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman had forecast an increase of $100 to $200. In that forecast, models with more storage could receive the larger increase. The iPhone Mania article says the leaker's $100 forecast could apply to every model.

Why it matters

Taken together, the forecasts would mean a higher starting price without additional base storage. Buyers considering the entry-level iPhone 18 Pro would be looking at 256GB again, while the reported Japanese price would rise from the current iPhone 17 Pro price of ¥194,800 to a projected ¥212,800. These figures remain predictions from reports dated Aug. 13 and Aug. 15, 2026, not a confirmed Apple price.

The iPhone Mania report also says Google Pixel 11 prices rose by $100 from the prior generation amid higher prices for dynamic random-access memory, or DRAM, and NAND flash memory. That comparison is part of the report's reasoning for why a similar iPhone increase could happen. Read the full iPhone Mania report.