Analysts expect new iPhone prices to move higher in Malaysia, but names and prices are not confirmed. Here’s what the rumoured iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max and iPhone Ultra could cost.
Every September, the same question shows up right on schedule: how much is the new iPhone going to be? This year the answer has more moving parts than usual. A global memory chip crunch, a foldable joining the lineup for the first time ever, and pricing chatter that's running noticeably warmer than in past years. Here's what's being said, and how to think about it carefully before 9 September (1:00 AM on 10 September, Malaysia time).
Apple's "Surprise and Shine" event is confirmed for 9 September 2026. Official Malaysia pricing will be clearer after the announcement, while analyst and supply-chain signals are currently pointing in one direction: up.
Apple's 9 September event is expected to bring only the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the iPhone Ultra foldable. No standard iPhone 18 this year. Early Malaysia price estimates point to premium pricing, especially for the foldable model, so it is worth waiting for confirmed prices before making any budget decisions.
Three devices are expected on stage on 9 September. Notably absent: the standard iPhone 18 and the iPhone 18e, which are reportedly being saved for a Spring 2027 release. So if a new iPhone is on your list this year, the menu is Pro or foldable. There isn't really a middle option.
A20 Pro chip · Triple 48MP cameras · Smaller Dynamic Island · 256GB base
Largest display · 5,100mAh+ battery · Same A20 Pro chip · 256GB base
Apple’s rumoured first foldable · 7.8" inner display · Touch ID · New category entirely
For some context: the iPhone 16 Pro launched in Malaysia at RM4,999 in 2024. The iPhone 17 Pro followed at roughly RM5,499 in 2025. A jump past RM6,300 for the iPhone 18 Pro would be one of the sharper year-on-year climbs in recent memory, and that's before the foldable even enters the conversation.
It's worth noting this isn't unique to Apple. The whole smartphone industry is navigating the same pressure on memory component costs. How each brand responds to that is different, and Apple's approach will become clear on 9 September.
iPhone Pro pricing in Malaysia has climbed from RM4,999 in 2024 to roughly RM5,499 in 2025, with the iPhone 18 Pro estimated to start above RM6,300 in 2026, one of the steepest year-on-year jumps in recent memory, driven partly by rising memory chip costs.
| Model | Malaysia starting price | Year | Change vs previous year |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 16 Pro | RM4,999 | 2024 | ↓ Actually cheaper than iPhone 15 Pro |
| iPhone 17 Pro | ~RM5,499 | 2025 | ↑ ~RM400 increase |
| iPhone 18 Pro (est.) | ~RM6,300+ | 2026 | ↑ ~RM900+ increase based on current estimates, official price confirmed on 9 Sept |
| iPhone Ultra (est.) | ~speculative RM9,000–11,000 | 2026 | ↑ All-new category, would be Apple's highest-priced iPhone to date if estimates hold |
Worth noting: not everyone agrees it'll be this bad. GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu suggested back in May 2026 (via MobileMasr) that Apple might actually price the iPhone 18 Pro "aggressively" to protect market share, holding the US base at USD 1,099, the same as the 17 Pro. If that scenario plays out, Malaysia might dodge the worst of the jump. Either way, the real number lands on 9 September, not before.
Spread over 36 months at 0% interest through CelcomDigi's Easy360 programme, an RM6,300 iPhone works out to about RM175 a month, and a RM10,000 iPhone Ultra to around RM278 a month, figures that look very different from the upfront sticker price.
Here's the reframe worth sitting with: the sticker price and what actually leaves your bank account this month don't have to be the same number. Spread RM6,300 across 36 months at 0% interest and you're paying about RM175 a month. Do the same with a RM10,000 iPhone Ultra and it's around RM278 a month. Neither of those numbers looks quite as scary as "RM6,300" in big bold font.
iPhone 17 Pro prices typically drop the moment a new generation is announced, and Malaysian carriers usually stack extra trade-in or plan discounts on top. If the 17 Pro's specs already suit your needs, the weeks after 9 September tend to be a smart time to buy one.
If the iPhone 18 Pro's price is making you wince, here's some relief: the second Apple announces the new lineup, iPhone 17 Pro prices drop. This happens every single year, no exceptions. The previous Pro suddenly becomes the "budget option" overnight, and carriers usually pile trade-in incentives and plan discounts on top just to clear the old stock.
If the iPhone 17 Pro already does everything you need it to, buying it in the weeks right after the 9 September announcement might genuinely be the smartest phone purchase you make all year, at a freshly discounted price, on the same Easy360 terms.
Quick answers on iPhone 18 Pro pricing, why costs are rising, and how to spread the cost.
Official pricing isn't confirmed until the 9 September 2026 keynote. Based on analyst estimates and reporting from SoyaCincau, the iPhone 18 Pro is looking at a starting price of over RM6,300 in Malaysia, a meaningful jump from the iPhone 17 Pro's approximately RM5,499. Some analysts believe Apple may price more conservatively to protect market share; the real number lands on 9 September.
A global DRAM chip shortage, driven by explosive AI demand, has pushed memory component costs up significantly. Apple CEO Tim Cook acknowledged in a Wall Street Journal interview that the situation has become "unsustainable" for Apple to fully absorb. Add camera hardware upgrades and the new foldable category's manufacturing costs, and prices across the lineup are trending upward.
Not at the September event. The standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e, Apple's more affordable models, are not expected until Spring 2027. The 9 September launch is Pro and Ultra only. The iPhone 17 series will still be available at reduced prices after the new models are announced.
CelcomDigi's Easy360 programme offers RM0 upfront, 0% interest across 24 or 36 months, and a RM10/month rebate on your bill. It's available on Postpaid 5G 100 plans and above, and switching your plan now puts you in position for the pre-order window.
Yes, reliably. Apple drops the price of previous-generation Pro models immediately when new ones are announced, and Malaysian carriers tend to follow with additional trade-in and plan promotions. If the 17 Pro already meets your needs, waiting for post-announcement pricing may be the more budget-conscious move.
