Apple still charging 300% of costs on iPhone storage upgrades, says WSJ

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1. 26m ago

   Apple Faces Scrutiny Over 300% Markup on iPhone Storage Upgrades

   Apple continues to charge customers nearly three times the underlying cost for storage upgrades on its devices, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis. Upgrading an iPhone 18 Pro to 1TB costs consumers $600, while the flash components are estimated to cost Apple $192. This pricing strategy persists even as the company deals with climbing memory chip prices and broader component cost pressures that are impacting procurement margins and supply chains.

   Why it matters

   Component price increases have introduced fresh cost pressures across the technology sector, prompting warnings from Apple executives about unprecedented memory prices. Despite these rising component costs and supply chain strains, analysis shows that high-capacity device variants maintain substantial price markups. Buyers face ongoing cost barriers when selecting storage capacities, making component-level cost transparency an important factor for holiday season purchasing decisions.

   What is confirmed

   • Apple charges $600 for the iPhone 18 Pro 1TB storage upgrade.
   • The flash components for the iPhone 18 Pro 1TB storage upgrade cost Apple an estimated $192.
   • Apple paid $42 for the 1TB storage upgrade on the previous iPhone 17 Pro model.
   • Apple CEO stated that memory prices are unprecedented and could continue climbing.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Higher memory prices will force Apple to increase retail prices across future iPad and Mac lineups.

   What to watch next

   • Further official pricing adjustments on Apple hardware product lines
   • Updates on memory chip supply constraints and procurement costs
   Sources used for this update (18)

   1. 9to5mac.com — 9to5Mac - Apple News & Mac Rumors Breaking All Day
   2. macdailynews.com — MacDailyNews - Welcome Home! Apple and Mac News
   3. www.macworld.com — Parallels Desktop 27 for Mac review: Still the best way to run Windows
   4. TechCrunch — Apple’s inventory surges 154% as memory chip costs climb
   5. 24/7 Wall St. — Apple Has $89.7 Billion in Purchase Obligations, and Most of It Comes Due Within a Year
   6. Macworld — Everyone is struggling (except Apple)
   7. in.mashable.com — Oppo Reno 17, Reno 17 Pro Launch In November 2026: Expected Features And Specifications
   8. 9to5Mac — Apple still charging 300% of costs on iPhone storage upgrades, says WSJ
   9. Barron's — Apple’s Supply Chain Faces Big Test From AI Chip Shortage
   10. Yahoo Finance — Apple CEO Says Memory Prices Are ‘Unprecedented’ and Could Keep Climbing — iPhone, Mac and iPad Costs Face Fresh Pressure After Recent Price Hikes
   11. Livemint — The Apple supply chain faces its biggest test yet
   12. www.theapplepost.com — Apple’s $600 iPhone 18 Pro storage upgrade costs $192, report says
   confidence 95%