TSMC, one of the tech giants’ secretive brands, is in the news with a decision that will directly impact smartphone prices. The company, a leader in chip production, is preparing to raise production prices by 5% to 10% in 2026. This decision will directly impact the prices of flagship models from brands like Apple and Samsung.

Will smartphone prices increase?

TSMC’s new price hike will affect Apple’s iPhone 17 series and Samsung’s Galaxy S26 family. This increase is expected to raise the prices of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max by approximately $50.

However, this information is not yet definitive. These price increases are not limited to 2026 models; future flagship phones like the iPhone 17 and iPhone 18 series are also launching at higher prices.

TSMC, which serves many major chip manufacturers from NVIDIA to Apple, produces both Apple’s A-series processors and the Snapdragon processors used by many phone manufacturers.

This isn’t TSMC’s first price hike. The company also raised its prices by 10% this year. This is prompting technology companies to develop their own chip production to reduce their dependence on foreign sources. However, the success of these efforts remains to be seen.

This wave of price hikes, combined with global economic uncertainty and rising raw material costs, is expected to usher in a new pricing strategy in the smartphone industry.

Industry analysts warn that tech giants will be forced to pass these cost increases on to consumers, which could alter market competition and consumer behavior.