A report from Digitimes claims Apple plans to raise prices for the new models of iPhone that are expected to launch very soon.
Exactly how big the increase will be is unknown, however, the reason for the price increase is the global chip shortage, which has caused component prices to skyrocket, according to the 26 August Digitimes report.
Apple is no doubt hoping that users will be willing to pay more for a more powerful processor, improved cameras and larger battery.
This contradicts a report from TrendForce earlier this summer that indicates that the iPhone 13 is likely to have similar pricing to the iPhone 12 series. They said: “The iPhone 13 series is expected to remain similar to the iPhone 12 series assuming Apple is able to effectively control manufacturing costs, since the latest models do not come with significant hardware upgrades. As a result of this aggressive pricing scheme, iPhone shipment will likely maintain its growth trajectory for two consecutive years.” More here: iPhone 13 ‘will cost the same as iPhone 12’.
The iPhone 13 is expected to be revealed at an event on 14 September, with the new handset likely to go on sale that Friday or the Friday after. Chinese site IT Home has claimed that the iPhone 13 will go on sale on 17 September, which would be a few days after the Apple event, if that takes place, as anticipated, on September 14.
The same site claims that the third-generation AirPods will go on sale on 30 September.
Update: A Nikkei report indicates that Apple supplier TMSC is raising chip prices and this may affect the price of the iPhone 14. Read: Price hike coming for new iPhones, iPads and MacBooks.
Author: Karen Haslam, Editor
Macworld editor since 2008, Karen has worked on both sides of the Apple divide, clocking up a number of years at Apple's PR agency prior to joining Macworld two decades ago.
Karen's career highlights include interviewing Apple's Steve Wozniak and discussing Steve Jobs’ legacy on the BBC. Her focus is Mac, but she lives and breathes Apple.