Apple(US:AAPL) Sou Hu Cai Jing·2026-01-28 03:03Core Viewpoint - The rising storage prices are becoming an unavoidable challenge for the consumer electronics industry, affecting even major players like Apple, which is facing significant cost increases [1]. Group 1: Memory Price Increases - According to TrendForce's latest report, Samsung plans to raise the price of LPDDR memory used in iPhones by over 80% quarter-on-quarter, while SK Hynix's increase is close to 100%. This price adjustment primarily targets the supply for the first quarter of 2026 [3]. - Industry insiders reveal that Apple, which typically signs long-term supply agreements, has only finalized prices for the first half of this year due to the current tight supply and demand for memory. Prices may rise further with the release of new models in the second half of the year [3]. Group 2: Apple's Procurement Strategy - Despite the price increases, Apple's strong purchasing power keeps its actual procurement prices for LPDDR relatively low. This price adjustment is seen as a significant step in alleviating long-standing pricing conflicts between Apple and memory suppliers [5]. - Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo notes that the increase in memory and flash storage costs directly pressures iPhone profit margins, but Apple has chosen to absorb this cost increase for now, planning to offset hardware profit losses through its services business [7]. Group 3: Pricing Strategy for iPhone 18 Series - Apple aims to maintain the starting price of the iPhone 18 series without increasing it, despite rising costs. The pricing strategy is to keep the entry-level price unchanged while potentially increasing storage options without raising prices [7][10]. - The price gap between high storage and entry-level storage in iPhones has historically been much larger than that of other smartphone manufacturers, allowing Apple to manage pricing effectively [8]. Group 4: Upcoming Product Releases - The release schedule for the iPhone product line is set for significant adjustments, with the iPhone 17e expected in the first half of 2026, followed by the iPhone 18 series and the first foldable iPhone later in the year [12]. - The iPhone 18 Pro series is anticipated to feature significant upgrades, including a variable aperture and enhanced imaging capabilities, with expected prices for the iPhone 18 Pro starting at 8,999 yuan for 256GB [14]. Group 5: Market Impact - The iPhone 18 series is likely to see strong sales due to the strategy of not raising prices despite increased storage costs, which positions Apple favorably in the market [16].