Apple iPhone 18 Pro with variable aperture camera gets $100 price hike yet cheaper than Galaxy S26 Ultra

Apple officially launched the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max with a $100 price hike in the US. Official pricing for other regions such as Asia and Europe remains to be revealed, but they will also see a price jump due to a memory crunch.

A price hike was inevitable due to rising memory costs, but Apple ate most of the cost burden at the expense of its profit to keep the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max price bump restricted to $100.

Apple iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will be available in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB storage capacities.

• iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 (U.S.)
• iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299 (U.S.)

Samsung and Google also slapped an extra $100 burden on their recent flagships, including the Galaxy S26 Ultra and Pixel 11 Pro series. Notably, the Galaxy S26 Ultra starts at $1,299 in the US, $100 pricier than the latest iPhone Pro.

iPhone 18 Pro is equipped with a 48MP Fusion Main camera, featuring a variable aperture.

iPhone 18 Pro makes it easy for anyone to capture stunning photos and videos using the variable aperture, while providing more versatility for creators and more control for pros.

Paired with impactful upgrades to Photographic Styles and powerful video capabilities, iPhone 18 Pro unlocks entirely new ways for users to express themselves.