According to Nikkei Asia, the production cost of iPhone 15 is significantly higher than last year’s iPhone 14 model, setting a record high in component prices. Apple may pass these costs on to customers in 2024. According to calculations, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is priced at US$558, which is 12% higher than the iPhone 14 Pro Max model released in 2022. This is also the highest record for the total cost of iPhone components.
access:
Apple Online Store (China)
From 2018 to 2021, the total cost of parts for Apple's iPhone "ProMax" models ranges from US$400 to US$450. In 2022, component costs rose about 20% before reaching an all-time high of $558 today.
The cost of the telephoto camera of iPhone 15 Pro Max is currently US$30, which is a 380% increase from the previous generation model. Likewise, the titanium frame costs $50, a 43% increase over the previous stainless steel frame. The price of the A17Pro chip is US$130, which is 27% higher than the A16Bionic chip.
Other models of the iPhone 15 series have not been immune to rising costs. The component price of the standard version of iPhone15 is US$423, which is 16% higher than that of iPhone14. The cost of iPhone 15 Plus is US$442, a 10% increase over the previous generation, while iPhone 15 Pro has increased by 8% to US$523.
Despite the increase in costs, Apple has not raised the retail price of any iPhone model this year, choosing instead to absorb the impact of increased expenses. The only noticeable change is the discontinuation of the 128GB ProMax model, which means users who normally buy the 128GB model will now have to pay $100 more to get the device.
Tokyo research firm Fomalhauto TechnoSolutions, in cooperation with Nikkei, believes that if Apple continues to suffer the impact of increased production costs, its bottom line will soon be hit. Therefore, Apple may ultimately choose to increase the retail price of the iPhone when it launches the iPhone 16 series next year.