The Price of Progress: How Smartphone Industry's Squeeze Plays Leaves Consumers Feeling Pinched The smartphone market has long been a bellwether for technological progress.
Recent price hikes from industry leaders like Apple, Google, and Samsung are symptomatic of a more profound issue – consumers are subsidizing the rising costs of research and development, manufacturing, and profit.
Apple's new iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199, a $100 increase over its predecessor. Even older iPhones have seen prices rise by $100.