Apple Increases Prices on Older iPhone Models Due to Expensive Chips

iPhone 18 Pro Pricing and Global Cost Disparities

Apple introduced its new generation of smartphones, headlined by the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models, with base prices starting higher than their predecessors, according to company announcements. The basic iPhone 18 variant was skipped for this release cycle. The iPhone 18 Pro with a 256 GB capacity starts at 34,990 crowns, while the 512 GB version costs from 40,990 crowns, the one-terabyte model reaches 52,990 crowns, and the two-terabyte option costs 70,990 crowns. By comparison, the iPhone 17 Pro launched at lower price points for smaller storage tiers, with the 256 GB and 512 GB models costing 2,000 crowns less, and the one-terabyte version priced 8,000 crowns lower. Pre-orders begin on September 12, with retail sales starting September 18. Alongside the new Pro lineup, Apple discontinued the previous generation iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models.

Geographic location significantly impacts final retail prices. Data from a Deutsche Bank study mapping global living costs shows that the Czech Republic ranked ninth among the top ten most expensive countries to purchase the outgoing iPhone 17 Pro with 256 GB storage, according to the bank’s comparative metrics. Turkey topped the global list, where the same model cost 2,592 dollars—exceeding 54 tisíc korun. That price sits 2.2 times higher than in the United States, driven by heavy local taxation and a 92 percent depreciation of the Turkish lira over the past decade. International Business Times notes that Turkish electronics purchases face up to four distinct charges, including a one percent cultural ministry fee, a 12 percent state broadcaster levy, a 50 percent special consumption tax on premium models, and a 20 percent value-added tax.

Rise of the iPhone Duo and Broader Market Pressures

Apple is also expanding into foldable devices with the new iPhone Duo, entering a market segment previously established by competitors like Samsung and Huawei. The iPhone Duo launches in four storage variants: a 256 GB base model for 54,990 crowns, a 512 GB version for 60,990 crowns, a one-terabyte model for 72,990 crowns, and a two-terabyte configuration priced at 90,990 crowns. Apple’s pricing positions the device above comparable foldable alternatives. For context, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 with 256 GB costs 48,990 crowns, while the one-terabyte Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra retails for 68,990 crowns.

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Price increases extend beyond Apple’s newest hardware. Older iPhone variants also saw price adjustments, with the 256 GB iPhone 17 rising by 3,000 crowns to 25,990 crowns, and the iPhone Air increasing by 2,000 crowns to 31,990 crowns for a similar storage capacity. Other manufacturers are following suit. Ondřej Šveda, spokesperson for price comparison platform Heureka, noted that Xiaomi devices have seen steady price climbs since early summer, with more than two-thirds of its models showing higher price tags by August. Similarly, Samsung’s Galaxy S26 smartphone series, released in March, introduced higher prices for larger storage tiers; the 512 GB Galaxy S26 increased by 2,500 crowns to 29,499 crowns compared to the S25 generation, while the 512 GB S26+ rose by 3,700 crowns to 35,699 crowns.

Chip Shortages and Semiconductor Cost Drivers

Underpinning these retail price hikes are mounting supply chain pressures affecting semiconductors, memory chips, and raw materials. Samsung recently raised manufacturing prices for its proprietary chips by approximately 15 percent, responding to heightened demand and depleted inventory levels at rival manufacturer Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), as reported in market updates. Bloomberg figures show that recommended prices for Huawei Ascend 950DT chips climbed roughly 60 percent over a three-month window to reach 250 000 jüanů (v přepočtu asi 777 947 korun) per unit, underscoring intense demand for domestic alternatives to Nvidia hardware.

Industry analysts point to multiple converging cost factors. According to Heureka spokesperson Ondřej Šveda, primary drivers include rising semiconductor and memory chip expenses, currency fluctuations, logistical and production overhead, and heavy corporate investment in emerging formats like foldable displays, which indirectly impact standard device pricing. Production bottlenecks also involve rare materials. Helium, a byproduct of natural gas processing that is critical for several chip-manufacturing stages, has experienced supply constraints. United States Geological Survey data indicates that Qatar supplies nearly a third of global helium production, with exports traditionally moving through the constrained Hormuz Strait.

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Despite industry-wide cost pressures, manufacturers are attempting to buffer consumer impact where possible. Veronika Schieblová, spokesperson for Samsung, stated that rising memory semiconductor prices represent a global trend expected to influence the wider sector. However, she added that Samsung anticipates maintaining a relatively stable supply position through strategic, trust-based partnerships aimed at minimizing direct price shocks for end users. The broader cost inflation is not restricted to smartphones; according to Heureka data, notebook price drops have largely stalled, tablets are seeing modest price increases following a summer lull, and smartwatches remain the notable exception, with prices declining by six percent over the past year.

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