Apparently, The iPhones of 2026 will not have the same cost than the current ones, and despite the fact that the iPhone 17 remained in price, models like the Pro, or the Air (compared to the Plus), already had an increase, which could be low compared to the next one.
It's all due to the new A20 chips, which would cause their production cost to increase, so Apple would pass it on to the public, and, therefore, we would have, after several years, an increase in all models, including the base one. But is more power, paying more, really necessary?
A20 chips in 2026: they would cost much more
Apple could raise iPhone prices again in 2026 due to new A20 chipwhich would mark an important technological leap. This processor will use a manufacturing process of 2 nanometers developed by TSMC, much more advanced than the current 3nm. However, this change also implies a much higher production cost: it is estimated that the new process will be at least 50% more expensive. This will not only affect Apple, but could set a new price standard in the high-end smartphone market, since all of them could carry this type of processors.
This does not mean that the phone becomes 50% more expensive, since we are only talking about this component, but it could mean a final increase in the device, since it would be an important value.
TSMC has invested heavily in creating this technology and is reportedly not willing to offer discounts to Apple like in the past. This lack of flexibility could force the Cupertino company to rethink its pricing strategy. Although The base iPhone 17 remained at $799the Pro and Air models already increased their price this year, as we already mentioned, and the pattern could be repeated next year, especially in models with greater storage capacity and advanced functions, such as the Pro Max.
If the A20 chip ends up costing much more than expected, Apple will have to decide whether to assume that expense or pass it on to the consumer. Everything will depend on how demand evolves and how they want to manage profit margins. They could also choose limit some hardware improvements so as not to raise the price too muchalthough that could make some users feel that the iPhone no longer offers as much compared to the competition, which also has an important role, because if everyone raises their price, Apple would too.
There are still months to see the new iPhone 18but the jump to 2 nanometers promises that they will be faster and that the battery will last longer, something that will surely attract the attention of users. Of course, all this could make the devices more expensive, and many will wonder if it is worth paying more for these improvements. In the end, the A20 is a great opportunity for Apple to increase the performance of its phones, but it also poses a challenge, since no one likes an increase in cost, especially for a power that most users do not end up distinguishing.
