Price Increase Inevitable Due to Latest Chipsets Like A17
Sales Tax in US, Additional Variables Like VAT in Korea
There is a rumor that the price of the 'iPhone 15' Pro model, scheduled for global release next month, could increase by up to $200 (approximately 267,000 KRW). The main reason for the price hike is the new application processor (AP) that uses an advanced semiconductor manufacturing process.
Overseas IT media outlets such as Digitimes and Apple Insider predicted on the 22nd (local time) that the starting price of the Apple iPhone 15 Pro will be at least $1,099 (about 1.47 million KRW). This is about $100 more expensive than its predecessor (iPhone 14 Pro). The highest-end model, the iPhone 15 Pro Max, is also expected to be sold at $1,299 (about 1.73 million KRW), which is $100 higher than the previous generation.
There are also claims that the actual price increase consumers will bear is close to $200. This is because, in the United States, sales tax imposed by state or city governments is added to the product price.
In South Korea, a 10% value-added tax (VAT) is also applied. Applying this to the aforementioned prices, the iPhone 15 Pro could cost around 1.6 to 1.7 million KRW, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max could reach about 1.9 to 2 million KRW. Of course, these amounts are not final prices and may change depending on exchange rate fluctuations, shipping costs, tariffs, and other variables.
Foreign media pointed to Apple's latest AP, the 'A17' chipset, as the reason for the higher iPhone prices. Apple has differentiated its product tiers by equipping the next-generation chipset only in the Pro and Pro Max models, while using the previous generation AP in the standard iPhone models.
The A17 processor is the world's first semiconductor manufactured using TSMC's 3-nanometer (nm) process. Being the latest process, it is presumed that the manufacturing cost per unit is much higher than other chipsets.
Since the chipset applies the latest process and design, the performance of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max is expected to improve significantly, but the consumer burden will also increase accordingly.
Because of this, Apple is focusing more on maintaining previous shipment levels rather than expanding sales volume for the iPhone 15.
Last month, the US financial media Bloomberg cited sources familiar with Apple's production status, reporting, "Since a decline in smartphone sales is expected, Apple aims to maintain stable iPhone shipments," and added, "If the prices of premium models rise, overall revenue will increase."
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