Just like the MacBook Neo, Apple might serve another pricing slam with the iPhone 18 Pro

Apple’s pricing strategy might be about to get… interesting again. Because after surprising everyone with the aggressively priced MacBook Neo, the company could be gearing up to pull a similar move with its next flagship iPhone. And this time, it’s the Pro models in focus.

Apple reportedly going aggressive with iPhone 18 Pro pricing?

A new report by analyst Jeff Pu suggests Apple is planning “aggressive pricing” for the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, but not in the way most people expect. As reported by 9to5Mac, instead of a blanket price hike, the strategy may be more nuanced.

The idea seems to be about repositioning the Pro tier, rather than simply making everything more expensive. Apple could widen the gap between standard iPhones and Pro models, making the premium devices feel even more… premium, while still keeping entry-level models accessible to maintain overall sales volume.

That approach lines up with Apple’s recent behavior. The company has previously absorbed rising costs instead of immediately passing them on, especially when demand could be impacted. But when it comes to Pro devices, there is more room to push pricing without hurting volume as much.

Neo strategy for iPhones

The MacBook Neo showed that Apple is willing to experiment with pricing at both ends of the spectrum. On one side, you have a surprisingly affordable MacBook aimed at expanding the user base. On the other hand, Apple could be making its Pro iPhones feel even more exclusive by stretching that price gap further.

That dual strategy allows Apple to play both sides. It can attract new users with lower entry points while extracting more value from users willing to pay for top-tier hardware. And with iPhones still being Apple’s biggest revenue driver, even small shifts in pricing strategy can have a massive impact.

Will the iPhone 18 Pro actually cost more?

That is still the big question. Some leaks suggest pricing could remain relatively stable in certain markets to protect demand, especially in price-sensitive regions. At the same time, rising component costs, particularly memory driven by AI demand, are putting pressure on margins across the industry.

As such, “aggressive pricing” may not necessarily mean a huge price jump. It could mean smarter segmentation, region-specific pricing, or subtle increases that make the Pro lineup feel more premium without scaring buyers away.