Apple and Samsung have already launched their 2026 flagships, so attention is now turning to the iPhone 18 and Galaxy S27 series expected in 2027. Apple is reportedly preparing the base iPhone 18, the iPhone 18e, and the iPhone Air 2. Samsung’s Galaxy S27 lineup is said to include four models: the Galaxy S27, S27 Plus, S27 Pro, and S27 Ultra.
Rumors suggest the standard iPhone 18 and Galaxy S27 will get some exciting upgrades over their predecessors, but there’s one change buyers probably won’t welcome: higher prices.
The iPhone 18 can cost $1,000
Apple had kept the base iPhone at $799 for years. Both the 2023 iPhone 15 and last year’s iPhone 17 launched at that price. However, Apple raised the iPhone 17’s price by $100 in September 2026.
As a result, the base iPhone 17 now costs $899 in the US. If that feels steep, the reported iPhone 18 price may be harder to swallow. Apple’s next base model is expected to cost even more, according to Digital Chat Station, a highly trusted tipster.
The tipster didn’t say whether the expected price increase is measured against the iPhone 17’s original launch price or its current $899 price. I believe it’s the latter, and here’s why. If the iPhone 18 launched with a $100 increase over the original $799, it would start at $899, the same price the iPhone 17 sells for now.
That would leave Apple selling two phones at the same price, unless it cuts the iPhone 17’s price. Most buyers would pick the newer model, which could hurt iPhone 17 sales. So if Apple does raise the iPhone 18’s price, a $999 starting price seems more likely than $899.
The Galaxy S27 has a similar story too
The Samsung Galaxy S27 will be one of the iPhone 18’s main rivals, and it’s also reported to launch at a higher price than the Galaxy S26. Samsung already raised the base model’s launch price by $100 over the Galaxy S25. Like Apple, it later increased the price by another $100 in the US, so the standard Galaxy S26 now sells for $999.
Multiple sources suggest the Galaxy S27 will also start at $999, the S26’s current price. That might look like Samsung is holding the line, but the S26 originally launched at $899. If the rumors are accurate, the Galaxy S27 will cost $100 more than its predecessor did at launch.
iPhone 18 and Galaxy S27 Price Increase Rumors Aren’t Winning Fans
As expected, Apple and Samsung fans aren’t happy about the rumored price hikes for their next phones. Under a related post, one Apple fan commented that the price increase is now a feature in itself.
Another user wrote, “18e at $799 and 18 at $999, what a time we are living in.” Samsung fans are just as frustrated. Under a Reddit post about the base Galaxy S27, one commenter joked that the phone will come with an exciting new premium price.
Will the iPhone 18 and Galaxy S27 Be Worth the Higher Price?
Neither the iPhone 18 nor the Galaxy S27 has been unveiled yet. Based on what has leaked so far, though, whether you should upgrade depends on the phone you own now. If you have an iPhone 17, upgrading to the iPhone 18 doesn’t look like a smart move.
The iPhone 18 is reportedly getting only two major upgrades: a faster 2nm A20 chip and a slightly larger battery. There may be other minor improvements, but those two appear to be the main differences from the iPhone 17. If the iPhone 18 launches at $999, paying that much to replace an iPhone 17 you bought for $799 doesn’t make much sense for just two upgrades.
I’d take the same approach with the Galaxy S27. If you use a Galaxy S26 that you bought for $899, upgrading to a phone likely priced at $999 isn’t a wise decision, since it’s expected to bring only small improvements over the current model.
The main camera could come from Sony, a sensor that was previously reserved for the Ultra. In some regions, the Exynos 2700 processor could power the phone. Those appear to be the only two major improvements over the S26. Earlier rumors suggested the base model would get a privacy display, but the latest leak hints that it will stay exclusive to the Ultra.
