Apple Slashes iPhone 18 Pro Parts Orders as Memory Prices Push Prices Up

Why This Is Happening

Memory prices are through the roof, and Apple had no choice but to pass some of that cost onto consumers. The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199, while the Pro Max starts at $1,299 — both $100 more than their predecessors. In China, the phones start at ¥9,999 and ¥10,999 respectively.

Higher prices mean softer demand, which means Apple needs fewer parts. It's not exactly rocket science.

A Supply Chain Game of Whispers

Here's where it gets interesting. Two separate supply chain sources pushed back on the doom-and-gloom narrative, telling China Securities Journal that the situation is more nuanced than it appears.

One source said Apple recently issued new shipping guidance: iPhone 18 Pro orders dropped a bit, but iPhone 18 Pro Max orders actually went up . Overall order volume hasn't changed much.

Another source was even more direct, calling the rumors "clearly one-sided." According to them, Apple shifted some iPhone 18 Pro orders over to the Pro Max because demand for the bigger model is stronger — and the total order volume didn't shrink at all. If anything, it's good news for the Pro Max supply chain.

The Launch Timing Curveball

There's another factor at play here: Apple changed up its release schedule this year.

Instead of dropping all new iPhones at once, Apple prioritized three high-end models this fall. The standard iPhone 18 and the next-gen iPhone Air won't arrive until spring 2027.

A supply chain manager explained it this way: "We're definitely seeing lower demand starting in August compared to previous years, because all the new models used to launch together. This year, the standard iPhone 18 — the one that actually drives volume — won't need components until closer to the end of the year, ahead of an early 2027 launch."

So the softer order numbers might not be a demand problem at all. It could just be a calendar problem.

Meanwhile, There's a $2,000 Foldable Coming

Apple's first foldable, the iPhone Duo , is set to launch on October 23 in 70 countries and regions. The 256GB base model starts at a whopping $1,999.

One insider didn't mince words: "As a smartphone, it's just too expensive. Given how the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are performing, we expect the iPhone Duo to face the same situation shortly after launch."

What's Next

Apple hasn't officially commented on any of this. Whether the company will cut orders further starting in November is still up in the air. But for now, the story isn't as simple as "iPhone sales are tanking." It's a mix of higher prices, a shifted launch schedule, and a supply chain that's still figuring out what normal looks like in 2026.

Quick Specs & Pricing