Nikkei Asia, the Japanese newspaper, has reported a significant increase in component costs for the new iPhone 15 compared to its predecessors.
In a recent report, the newspaper conducted a teardown of the base model of the iPhone 15 Pro Max in collaboration with Formalhaut, a technical solutions firm, to identify the core components used and estimate their prices.
The report revealed that the cost of components for the iPhone 15 Pro Max with a storage capacity of 256 gigabytes amounts to $558 USD, marking a 12% increase when compared to the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
The Apple A17 processor is priced at approximately $130, the screen at around $115, and the titanium-made metal frame at roughly $50, reflecting varying increases from the previous year.
It’s worth noting that component costs for similar models from 2018 to 2021 ranged between $400 and $450, indicating that Apple is currently facing rising component prices compared to previous years.
It’s important to highlight that these costs primarily focus on the physical components of the iPhone, without accounting for other factors such as research, development, marketing, shipping, and various operational and logistical expenses.
On the other hand, internal storage memory prices have globally declined due to decreased demand, allowing Apple to offer increased base storage capacity at the same cost. For instance, Apple is introducing the iPhone 15 Pro Max with a starting price of $1,200 USD.
The newspaper anticipates a continued increase in component prices, which may lead to higher prices for the iPhone 16 expected next year.
