Here's Why the cost of the Apple iPhone 15 Pro could go up

iPhone 15 Pro could get $100 price hike — here’s how Apple can justify that (Image credit- Tom's Guide) According to Jeff Pu, a tech analyst at the Hong Kong-based investment company Haitong International Securities, Apple's upcoming iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will likely cost more than earlier Pro versions. Apple is allegedly planning to increase prices for the first time since the iPhone X, the upcoming iPhone Pro models will likely cost more than their predecessors. In his research note, Pu anticipated that the iPhone 15 Pro models will see a price increase due to several rumored hardware updates, such as a titanium frame, solid-state buttons with extra Taptic Engines, an A17 Bionic chip, increased RAM, a new periscope lens for boosted optical zoom on the Pro Max model, and more. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Image credit- Forbes[/caption] Following an unverified claim on the Chinese social media website Weibo in January, a price rise for the iPhone 15 Pro models has been speculated about twice. Whether Apple actually increases the price of the devices remains to be seen, though. Since the launch of the iPhone X in 2017 and the iPhone XS Max the year after, the Pro model's starting price in the US has been $999 for the Pro and $1,099 for the Pro Max. Another well-known Apple analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, projected a price increase for the iPhone 14 Pro lineup, according to the report. Compared to earlier reports, the renowned phone manufacturer company retained its pricing in the US when the new flagship series arrived last year. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Image credit- Smartprix[/caption] Apple has raised the price of iPhones repeatedly in recent years outside of the United States, primarily as a result of changes in foreign exchange rates. For instance, the iPhone 14 Pro begins at £1,099 in the UK, versus £949 for the iPhone 13 Pro. Despite maintaining the same starting prices for six consecutive generations of Pro models, Apple will ultimately need to raise prices in order to maintain its profit margins. A price rise over the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, which start at $799 and $899, respectively, is not known for the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. Also read: Popular Apple Analyst Suggests Launch of New iPad Mini In 2023 As usual, Apple is anticipated to release the iPhone 15 series in September. While over ten additional features and modifications are rumored for the Pro models, all four devices are reportedly expected to come with a USB-C port, the Dynamic Island, and a slightly more curved frame.