Apple absorbs RAM shortage costs for iPhone 18 price freeze—by quietly jacking up your iCloud storage fees instead

Apple is reportedly planning to maintain the price of its upcoming iPhone 18 despite a global memory shortage, according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The company aims to absorb the rising costs of RAM prices, which are expected to increase during its next round of discussions with suppliers. Apple is now negotiating memory prices with suppliers every quarter, instead of every six months, in an effort to mitigate the impact of the shortage. The tech giant plans to offset the increased costs with its services business, which includes app subscriptions. Kuo's report suggests that Apple will try to keep the iPhone 18's starting price steady, avoiding a potential price hike. The global memory shortage has significant implications for the tech industry, and Apple's decision to absorb the costs demonstrates its commitment to maintaining competitive pricing. The company's services business has become a key revenue driver, and its growth is expected to help offset the rising costs of component prices.