The iPhone 18 Pro series will be launching by 2026, but there's bad news for fans: a steep rise in price is expected thanks to TSMC's expensive 2-nanometer chips.

Of course, the tradeoff will be somewhat worth the markup when it comes to performance and features. This could mean that the tech titan will unveil it as a high-end variant, surpassing the previous and the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro in both price and performance.

Effects of 2nm Chips on Prices of iPhone 18 Pro

iPhone 18 Pro Might See Price Increase With 2nm chips

A report published by Taiwanese news outlet Ctee stated that Apple would be the first manufacturer of handsets to make use of 2nm chip technology. The new chipset, dubbed Apple A20, would reportedly power the iPhone 18 Pro in 2026, which is set to be produced by using TSMC's next-generation 2nm process that will cost more than the existing 3nm chips.

The move from 3nm to 2nm processors is going to push up the production cost significantly. In fact, every iPhone application processor is going to add $35 to Apple's bill, which is 70% more than what it used to be at $50. That added manufacturing cost will surely be passed on to consumers in the form of a price hike on the iPhone 18 Pro models.

Why the iPhone 18 Pro Could Be More Expensive

The higher-cost A20 is still one of the other aspects by which the price increase of the iPhone 18 Pro is predicted. The introduction of the TSMC 2nm process will not only give improvements in performance and efficiency but in energy too.

Henceforth, the iPhone 18 Pro might provide higher speed than older models, in addition to gaining better battery life to produce more powerful and attractive Apple device technology products.

Furthermore, rumors have it that the iPhone 18 Pro will feature a Face ID sensor below the display. This brings one more layer of sophistication to the device. All these will certainly push the price up and will make this an expensive flagship for 2026.

Non-Pro iPhone 18 Models Will Keep Costs Down

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to adopt the 2nm A20 chipset, while the base models will probably continue to use 3nm processors to keep costs manageable.

This will allow Apple to maintain a wider price range for the iPhone 18 lineup, covering budget-conscious consumers as well as premium seekers.

According to Gadgets 360, the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18 Air will bring users all the advantages of a high-performance chipset without a price increase compared to the Pro models.

Roadmap for Future iPhone Processors from Apple

Apple A18 and A19 are reportedly going to drive the future iPhone 17 versions of next year. The iPhone 17 Pro models are said to feature the A19 Pro chip, while the standard iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air will use either the A18 or A19 chip, depending on the variant.

However, Apple's long-term strategy for the iPhone 18 and beyond revolves around its next-generation A20 chipset and the potential for even more advanced technology as it moves to 2nm production.

What to Expect from the iPhone 18 Pro in 2026

By 2026, the iPhone 18 Pro variants will be the epitome of Apple's technological mastery, coming with the new 2nm A20 chip for better performance and battery life, and possible design updates such as under-screen Face ID.

At an increased cost of production on account of a more expensive A20 chip that will surely go into pricing the iPhone 18 Pro somewhat steeper, Apple might gain from added speed, higher efficiency, and innovative aspects through this higher cost for customers who will appreciate it.