by Hartley Charlton
The iPhone 15's production costs are appreciably higher than those of last year's iPhone 14 models, marking record high component prices that Apple could pass onto customers in 2024, Nikkei Asia reports.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is calculated to cost $558, a 12% increase over the iPhone 14 Pro Max model released in 2022. This is a record high for the total cost of an iPhone's components. From 2018 to 2021, the total cost of parts for Apple's iPhone "Pro Max" models ranged from $400 to $450. Component costs rose around 20% in 2022 before reaching today's record high of $558.
The cost of the iPhone 15 Pro Max's telephoto camera now stands at $30, a 380% increase over the previous model. Likewise, the titanium frame costs $50, a 43% increase over the stainless steel frame of previous devices. The A17 Pro chip comes in at $130, a 27% increase over the A16 Bionic chip.
The other models in the iPhone 15 lineup are also not immune to cost increases. The standard iPhone 15's components come in at $423, a 16% increase compared to the iPhone 14. The iPhone 15 Plus is calculated at $442, a 10% increase over its predecessor, while the iPhone 15 Pro grew by 8% to $523.
Despite increased costs, Apple did not increase the retail prices of any of its iPhone models this year and chose to absorb the impact of increased expenses. The only notable change was the discontinuation of the 128GB Pro Max model, meaning that users who normally purchased the 128GB model now have to pay $100 more to obtain the device.
In collaboration with Nikkei, Tokyo-based research company Fomalhaut Techno Solutions believes that if Apple continues to absorb the impact of increased production costs, its bottom line will soon take a hit. As a result, Apple may finally choose to hike iPhone retail prices upon the launch of next year's iPhone 16 lineup.
Related Roundups: iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro
Tag: Nikkei
Buyer's Guide: iPhone 15 Pro (Neutral)
[ 145 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
xpxp2002
25 weeks ago
God forbid Apple only make 40% or 45% profit margin on these devices…
Score: 48 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kirk.vino
25 weeks ago
It’s kinda ironic and funny though considering that the 256GB module does not cost $100 more than the 128GB one to manufacture, so Apple has already passed this price hike to their customers in a way.
Score: 35 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mnsportsgeek
25 weeks ago
Another year of this huh? How many more years you gonna predict a price increase before you’re finally right?
Score: 34 Votes (Like | Disagree)
contacos
25 weeks ago
At those prices I am ready to try a Fold next fall just to try something different. I’ll still have my 15 Plus for my iOS needs
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
citysnaps
25 weeks ago
God forbid Apple only make 40% or 45% profit margin on these devices…
Not an unreasonable number.
Do you have insight into Apple's overhead and indirect costs, which GPM doesn't cover?
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
foobarbaz
25 weeks ago
Keep guessing! Eventually, the more expensive iPhone rumor will turn out correct.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments
Popular Stories
When to Expect a New Apple TV to Launch
Tuesday April 9, 2024 8:30 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
It has been nearly a year and a half since the current Apple TV was released, so the device is becoming due for a hardware upgrade. Below, we recap rumors about the next Apple TV, including potential features and launch timing. The current model is the third-generation Apple TV 4K, announced in October 2022. Key new features compared to the previous model from 2021 include a faster A15...
Read Full Article • 135 comments
Alleged iPhone 16 Battery Details Show Smaller Capacity for One Model
Tuesday April 9, 2024 3:46 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple's upcoming iPhone 16 lineup will feature bigger battery capacities compared to previous-generation models with the exception of the iPhone 16 Plus, which will have a smaller battery than its predecessor. That's according to the Chinese Weibo-based leaker OvO Baby Sauce OvO, a relatively new source of supply chain leaks with an as-yet unproven track record for accuracy. The iPhone 16 ...
Read Full Article • 40 comments
When to Expect the Next iPad Mini and Low-End iPad Models to Launch
Sunday April 7, 2024 6:45 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
While rumors have been focused on new iPad Pro and iPad Air models, some Apple customers are wondering when the next iPad mini will be released. In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said new iPad mini and entry-level iPad models will be released in late 2024 at the earliest. "The company is also working on new versions of the low-end iPad and iPad mini, but those...
Read Full Article • 79 comments
Best Buy Introduces Record Low Prices Across Every 10th Gen iPad
Sunday April 7, 2024 8:01 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Following a few notable discounts on MacBooks yesterday, Best Buy today introduced a sale on the 10th generation iPad, including numerous all-time low prices on the tablet. Prices start at $349.00 for the 64GB Wi-Fi model, and include $100 markdowns on both Wi-Fi and cellular devices. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may...
Read Full Article • 35 comments
iPhone 16 Plus Rumored to Come in These 7 Colors
Wednesday April 10, 2024 3:52 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple's iPhone 16 Plus may come in seven colors that either build upon the existing five colors in the standard iPhone 15 lineup or recast them in a new finish, based on a new rumor out of China. According to the Weibo-based leaker Fixed focus digital, Apple's upcoming larger 6.7-inch iPhone 16 Plus model will come in the following colors, compared to the colors currently available for the...
Read Full Article • 73 comments
Microsoft Says Windows Laptops With Snapdragon X Elite Will Be Faster Than M3 MacBook Air
Monday April 8, 2024 10:00 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Microsoft will advertise that its upcoming Windows laptops with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite processor are faster than the MacBook Air with Apple's latest M3 chip, according to internal documents obtained by The Verge. "Microsoft is so confident in these new Qualcomm chips that it's planning a number of demos that will show how these processors will be faster than an M3 MacBook Air for CPU...
Read Full Article • 454 comments
Apple Event for New iPads Still Considered 'Unlikely' Following Delays
Tuesday April 9, 2024 6:37 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple is "unlikely" to hold an event to announce new iPad Pro and iPad Air models, according to sources cited by Taiwanese supply chain publication DigiTimes. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman already said Apple was not planning to hold an event for the new iPads, but he made this claim back in early March, before it was reported that the devices were postponed due to manufacturing delays. With the...
Read Full Article • 38 comments
