Apple has secured lower prices for OLED displays for the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro models, with industry sources saying the company will pay LG and Samsung about $68 per OLED panel for the iPhone 18 Pro Max — down from the $110 to $120 it paid for iPhone 17 Pro Max displays.
The move comes as Apple reportedly pushed aggressively for lower display prices to help offset rising production costs caused by an ongoing memory chip shortage driven by companies building out powerful AI data centers. That supply-demand imbalance has driven RAM prices higher, increasing costs for devices like the iPhone.
South Korean reports first detailed these negotiations last month.
By securing lower costs for some non-memory components such as displays, Apple can partially offset the rising cost of RAM chips used in its phones.
Impact on iPhone 18 Pro pricing
Market research firms still expect the iPhone 18 Pro models to be more expensive than the iPhone 17 Pro lineup, estimating U.S. starting prices could rise by $200 to $300. Under those estimates, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max could start at up to $1,399 and $1,499, respectively.
Apple already raised prices on Macs, iPads and select other products in June, while the iPhone was spared at that time. If Apple can lock in lower prices for displays and some other components, the expected iPhone 18 Pro price increases could be closer to $200 or less rather than $300, but only time will tell.
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro models and a foldable iPhone this September, leaving roughly a month before official pricing is announced.
