On January 28th (Beijing time), Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst with TF International Securities, revealed that Apple has shifted to quarterly negotiations for iPhone memory pricing. In the first quarter of 2026, the price surge for LPDDR memory is in line with industry expectations, whereas the increase in NAND Flash prices is slightly more moderate. Memory quotes are projected to rise again in the second quarter, with a magnitude comparable to that of the first quarter. These memory price hikes will inevitably impact the iPhone's gross profit margin. However, Apple is placing a higher priority on securing a stable memory supply. Subsequently, the company plans to make up for any profit shortfalls through its thriving services business. Regarding the iPhone 18 series, slated for release in the second half of 2026, Apple's pricing strategy aims to "minimize price increases as much as feasible," at the very least, maintaining the current starting price.