iPhone 18 Price Likely to Rise as Apple Embraces Costly 2nm Chip Technology, Tipster Claims

Apple’s Shift to TSMC’s Next-Gen 2nm Process May End Five-Year iPhone Price Freeze

Cupertino, CA – Apple may increase the price of its iPhone 18 lineup, according to recent leaks, as the company prepares to adopt TSMC’s advanced 2nm chip manufacturing process for its upcoming A20 chipset. The price hike, if implemented, would mark the first base model iPhone price increase since the iPhone 12 launched in 2020 at $799.

iPhone 18 Pro Apple to Be First in Line for TSMC’s 2nm Chips

Renowned Weibo tipster Digital Chat Station claims that Apple will be among the first companies to receive chips built on TSMC’s 2nm process, ahead of competitors like Qualcomm and MediaTek. These next-gen chips are expected to debut on the iPhone 18 Pro models in 2026.

TSMC is actively preparing new facilities for mass production of the 2nm chips, and manufacturing is set to commence soon. Unlike the A18 Pro, which is built on TSMC’s N3P node (3nm process), the new A20 chip will reportedly leverage the 2nm technology — significantly increasing manufacturing costs.

A Steep Cost Jump Behind the Price Hike

According to industry estimates, the transition from 3nm to 2nm could lead to a 70% rise in chip production cost — from $50 to $85 per unit. That increase may pressure Apple to pass the cost onto customers, breaking its long-standing $799 price point for base iPhones.

Digital Chat Station suggests that other smartphone makers, such as Qualcomm and MediaTek, are also likely to see price increases on their 2nm-equipped devices. However, these next-gen chips may not arrive until late 2026.

Additional Cost Pressures Beyond Chips

Apart from chip costs, Apple may also face increased tariffs under recent policy proposals in the U.S. by former President Donald Trump. If Apple is compelled to shift a portion of iPhone manufacturing to the U.S., it could further elevate production expenses, reinforcing the likelihood of a price hike.

What This Means for iPhone Buyers

If the leaks are accurate, Apple may break its five-year streak of price stability for base models and introduce iPhone 18 with a higher entry-level price tag. The move to 2nm chips will likely benefit performance and power efficiency — but at a premium.

While it is expected that only iPhone 18 Pro models will feature the new A20 2nm chips, even the base iPhone variants may not be immune from price adjustments due to overall rising costs across the supply chain.