Apple is once again facing manufacturing cost efficiency challenges for its future product line. According to the latest report, the production cost or Bill of Materials (BoM) for the iPhone 18 Pro Max is estimated to swell by up to US$300 or around Rp5.4 million compared to the production cost of its predecessor.
Data gathered by Counterpoint Research shows that this significant increase is mainly driven by the integration of 12GB memory components and the use of a 2-nanometer (nm) technology-based System-on-Chip (SoC). This latest chip not only offers higher performance but also requires much more complex and costly packaging methods.
Although processing and memory components experienced a price surge, Apple reportedly managed to suppress costs in other sectors. Estimates show that display component prices are actually predicted to be more efficient than the previous model. On the other hand, camera module costs are expected to see only a slight increase alongside the implementation of the company's latest sensor technology.
This surge in production costs has become an industry focus, especially regarding how Apple will address consumer pricing policies later on. The use of 2nm chip technology is a major gamble for the company in maintaining the iPhone's competitive position in the global premium smartphone market.
