There’s some bad news for Apple fans. The upcoming iPhone 17 Pro price increase seems inevitable due to a global chip shortage. Reports from the industry indicate that a shocking 230% increase in DRAM costs is putting Apple in a difficult position, and this could be reflected in consumer prices.

Why is an iPhone 17 Pro Price Increase on the Agenda?

According to reports, the unit cost of the 12GB LPDDR5X RAM expected to be used in iPhone 17 Pro models has risen from $25-29 to a staggering $70. This represents a massive 230% increase and creates significant cost pressure even for a tech giant like Apple. This situation necessitates the company taking new measures to protect its profit margins.

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Normally, Apple secures component prices in advance by entering into long-term contracts with its suppliers to protect itself from such sudden cost shocks. However, the global DRAM shortage is presenting itself as a problem that exceeds Apple’s strategy this time.

Apple’s current DRAM supply agreements are reportedly set to expire in January 2026. When these contracts end, the company will have to negotiate new prices, and securing the old prices under current market conditions seems unlikely.

Furthermore, another factor complicating the situation is that major manufacturers like SK Hynix and Micron are reducing LPDDR memory production to focus on HBM memory, which is in high demand for AI and data centers. Therefore, Apple may become heavily reliant on Samsung for RAM supply starting with the iPhone 18 series. This could weaken Apple’s bargaining power and further increase costs.

If DRAM costs remain at around $70 per unit, Apple may have no choice but to pass this additional cost on to consumers. This could make a price increase inevitable for the iPhone 17 Pro and subsequent models.

So, what are your thoughts on the potential price increase for the iPhone 17 Pro? Share your opinions in the comments!