Apple: Preisexplosion bei Speicherchips – kostet das iPhone bald 350 Dollar mehr?

Apple iPhones may become significantly more expensive in the near future, according to analysts. Ben Wood from CCS Insight told the Handelsblatt that they expect price increases across the board when the new models are unveiled in September. Trendforce analysts argue that it is "inevitable" for Apple to demand more for its smartphones moving forward, citing rising material costs.

While the company itself declined to provide specific estimates, several estimates have been made. Counterpoint, a US market researcher, predicts a price increase of around $250 to $350 per device if Apple CEO Tim Cook wants to maintain the current gross margin. Other analysts estimate the expected price hikes for the iPhone to be between $100 and $200.

The driving force behind the increased costs is the expansion of data centers for artificial intelligence (AI). Companies like Microsoft and Amazon are investing record sums in building these centers, competing for the same scarce components. One of the key resources in this process is memory chips.

For months, leading manufacturers SK Hynix, Samsung, and Micron have struggled to meet the growing demand for these chips. The result has been substantial price increases.