Surging global semiconductor prices are driving up costs across the smartphone market, with ultra-premium foldable devices expected to exceed 3 million won ($2,200) in the second half of this year.
According to MacRumors and industry sources on the 17th (local time), Apple's first foldable iPhone, expected to launch later this year, is projected to cost approximately 3.46 million won for the 256GB model, 3.9 million won for 512GB, and 4.33 million won for 1TB. These prices are nearly double that of the flagship iPhone 17 Pro, which starts at 1.79 million won for 256GB.
The price increases stem from the complex manufacturing requirements of foldable devices and rapidly rising semiconductor costs. Application processors and memory chips, which account for significant portions of smartphone production costs, have both surged simultaneously.
Memory price increases have been steep. According to market research firms, DDR4 8Gb prices have risen approximately tenfold year-over-year, while NAND flash prices have more than quintupled. For premium smartphones, DRAM and NAND now each account for roughly 20% of total production costs.
Samsung Electronics faces similar pressures. The company's mobile AP procurement costs have increased more than 20% over the past year. Samsung raised prices on its Galaxy S26 series released this year, and its upcoming foldable products are expected to face similar upward pressure.
Next-generation foldable products, including successors to the Galaxy Z Fold and Flip lines and new form factors, may be positioned at higher price points than their predecessors. Some observers suggest the premium market overall could shift upward as competition intensifies with Apple's ultra-premium foldable iPhone.
The market does not view these price increases as temporary. Memory supply expansion is not expected to materialize until after 2027, suggesting sustained pricing pressure until then.
Some experts forecast additional price increases next year of approximately $30 for budget smartphones and up to $200 for premium devices. Global smartphone shipments are expected to decline as consumer replacement demand weakens.
Smartphone shipments this year may fall below 1.1 billion units, potentially marking the lowest level since 2013. Rising prices and slowing demand are constraining overall market growth.
In contrast, Apple is accelerating its push into the budget laptop market. The recently unveiled "MacBook Neo" is priced at around 990,000 won, nearly half the cost of existing MacBook products.
The device uses mobile chip-based design to achieve both performance and power efficiency, targeting educational and budget-conscious markets. With student discounts, the laptop can be purchased for as low as 800,000 won, emphasizing price competitiveness.
