India, Jan. 29 -- According to a fresh investor note from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is unlikely to raise the base price of the iPhone 18 in India, even as the cost of key components continues to climb. The increase in manufacturing costs is mainly linked to TSMC's next-generation A20 chip and rising memory prices. Even so, Apple appears willing to protect entry-level pricing to remain competitive in key markets like India, making this one of its most consumer-friendly pricing moves in recent years.

Rising memory prices and the cost of the A20 chip had raised concerns over a possible iPhone 18 launch price increase. Initial news indicated increased manufacturing expenses of the iPhone 18, which is largely because of the next-generation ...