How much more does the iPhone 18 Pro cost? Apple raised the US starting price by $100, from $1,099 to $1,199.
But the 1TB iPhone 18 Pro jumped from $1,499 to $1,799—an actual increase of $300.
The 1TB increase is even larger in local currency: RMB 2,500 in China, ¥75,000 in Japan, A$500 in Australia, C$450 in Canada and €400 in Germany.
In other words, the headline starting price does not show what photographers, video creators and other high-storage buyers will really pay.
“The iPhone 18 Pro is only $100 more” sounds simple. It is also incomplete.
That $100 figure applies to the entry-level 256GB model in the United States. Move up to 1TB and the year-over-year difference triples to $300. Outside the US, the increase becomes even harder to ignore.
How did a $100 iPhone price increase become $300?
The US launch price of the 256GB iPhone 17 Pro was $1,099. The 256GB iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199, so Apple’s headline increase is indeed $100.
The storage ladder is where the pricing changes:
| US storage | iPhone 17 Pro | iPhone 18 Pro | Year-over-year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 256GB | $1,099 | $1,199 | +$100 |
| 512GB | $1,299 | $1,399 | +$100 |
| 1TB | $1,499 | $1,799 | +$300 |
| 2TB | Not offered | $2,399 | New tier |
On the iPhone 17 Pro, going from 512GB to 1TB cost $200. On the iPhone 18 Pro, the same upgrade costs $400. That one step—not the base price—is the real story.
iPhone 17 Pro: 512GB → 1TB = +$200
iPhone 18 Pro: 512GB → 1TB = +$400
Apple has effectively doubled the US premium for moving from 512GB to 1TB.
How much more is the 1TB iPhone 18 Pro around the world?
These cards compare each market’s official 1TB launch price with the previous generation. The increases are shown in local currency, without using a temporary exchange rate.
Note: Europe does not have one universal Apple retail price. Germany is used here as a clear eurozone example; prices can differ by country because of VAT and local pricing.
Which country saw the biggest iPhone 18 Pro 1TB increase?
Among the markets compared here, Japan saw the sharpest percentage increase. The 1TB price rose by ¥75,000, or about 30%, from one generation to the next.
Germany follows at roughly 22.2%, while Canada and the US are close to 20%. Australia has the smallest percentage rise in this group, but A$500 is still far more noticeable than the A$100 increase on its 256GB model.
This is why a direct local-price comparison matters. Currency conversion alone cannot explain what a customer actually sees at checkout.
Why is the iPhone 18 Pro more expensive outside the US?
Several factors shape Apple’s international pricing: exchange-rate risk, local taxes, import costs, regulatory expenses and Apple’s regional price strategy.
There is another important difference. US Apple Store prices are normally shown before state and local sales tax. Prices in Japan, Australia, Canada, China and most European markets are generally displayed with applicable consumption tax, GST or VAT included.
That means a raw US-dollar conversion is not a fair checkout comparison. It also does not change the central finding: within each local market, the 1TB iPhone 18 Pro rose much more than the entry model.
Why are 1TB buyers paying a bigger premium?
Apple has not published a component-by-component explanation for the new storage ladder. Still, the pricing clearly places a larger premium on buyers who need local capacity for ProRes video, high-resolution photography, offline media or several years of app and game growth.
The new 2TB option also gives Apple more room at the top. In the US, upgrading from 1TB to 2TB costs another $600. A fully loaded iPhone 18 Pro therefore reaches $2,399 before sales tax.
This is less like a uniform $100 generation increase and more like segmented pricing: modest at 256GB and 512GB, aggressive at 1TB and above.
Should you buy the 512GB or 1TB iPhone 18 Pro?
For most buyers, 512GB is now the value sweet spot. It provides substantial room for photos, 4K video, apps and offline downloads without paying the unusually large 1TB premium.
Choose 1TB if you regularly record ProRes, keep large video projects on the phone, travel without reliable cloud access or already use more than roughly 350–400GB. In those cases, storage pressure can cost more than the upgrade over several years.
If your current phone uses under 200GB, paying an extra $400 to move from 512GB to 1TB is difficult to justify. iCloud storage and periodic offloading may be the better deal.
Is Apple’s “$100 more” message misleading?
The $100 comparison is mathematically correct for the US 256GB starting model. It becomes misleading only when readers assume every storage tier increased by the same amount.
The better question is not “How much did the iPhone 18 Pro starting price rise?” It is “How much did the iPhone 18 Pro I actually want rise?”
For a 1TB buyer, the answer is $300 in the US—and a much larger local-currency jump across several major international markets.
FAQ
How much is the 1TB iPhone 18 Pro in the US?
The unlocked 1TB iPhone 18 Pro costs $1,799 before state and local sales tax.
Did the iPhone 18 Pro price increase by $100 or $300?
Both figures can be correct. The 256GB model increased by $100, while the 1TB model increased by $300 compared with the iPhone 17 Pro launch price.
Why does 1TB cost so much more than 512GB?
Apple now charges $400 in the US to move from 512GB to 1TB. The same upgrade cost $200 on the iPhone 17 Pro.
Is the iPhone 18 Pro cheaper in the US?
The US sticker price is usually lower, but it excludes sales tax. International prices often include VAT, GST or consumption tax, and warranty, SIM and regional-model differences also matter.
Which iPhone 18 Pro storage should I buy?
512GB offers the best balance for most buyers. Choose 1TB mainly for heavy ProRes recording, large offline libraries or long-term local storage needs.
Does the iPhone 18 Pro have 2TB storage?
Yes. The iPhone 18 Pro adds a 2TB option, priced at $2,399 in the US before sales tax.
Price sources and methodology
Prices are Apple launch prices for unlocked 1TB iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro models. Carrier promotions, trade-ins and temporary retailer discounts are excluded.
