// THE VERGE — MOBILE & WEB
It’s the year of smartphone price hikes
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Apple, Google, and Samsung’s new phones have two things in common: they include a foldable and they cost more.
Apple, Google, and Samsung’s new phones have two things in common: they include a foldable and they cost more.
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Paying more for a new phone seems almost unavoidable after Apple’s event today. The new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max start at $1,199 and $1,299, respectively — a $100 price hike over their predecessors. You can’t dodge the price hike by opting for an older iPhone, either, because Apple raised prices on those by $100, too. And it’s not just Apple. This year, the $100 price hike has been a trend across the industry.
Google and Samsung followed the same formula as Apple when they each launched new phones over the past few months. The Pixel 11 starts at $899, up from $799 for last year’s Pixel 10. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra launched at $2,099, $100 more than the Galaxy Z Fold 7 it replaced.
You could try looking for a phone from a brand outside the big three, but the price hikes persist there, too. Sony’s new Xperia 10 VIII costs £150 more, and this year’s Moto Razr phones also cost $100 more than their predecessors, each offering little to no significant upgrades to go with their higher prices. Smartphone sales data shows that the market for phones under $100 may be on its way to completely disappearing.