Contrary to prior rumors and leaks leading up to the Apple iPhone launch, Apple did not raise prices for the iPhone 15. As was the case in the previous year, Apple maintained its pricing structure in the US, with the exception of one significant change, while reducing prices in the UK and EU.

The exception is the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which now starts at $1,199. Although this starting price is $100 higher than the previous year, it is due to the absence of a 128GB storage option at the $1,099 price point. The iPhone 15 Pro Max now offers a minimum of 256GB and is priced the same as the 256GB iPhone 14 Pro Max from the previous year.

Initial preorders saw consumers rushing to purchase the new Pro model, with the iPhone 15 Pro Max selling out within an hour. While manufacturing challenges may have contributed to this, the device remains sold out even a month later.

A recent report sheds light on the cost of manufacturing the iPhone 15 Pro Max. It turns out that the new device is considerably more expensive to produce, but Apple has not passed on these increased costs to consumers.

It is worth noting that all iPhone 15 models are reported to be more costly to manufacture than their predecessors. However, Apple has maintained the pricing structure of the iPhone 14 for another year.

Apple does not disclose the exact costs of iPhone 15 parts and assembly, but estimates have surfaced from third-party sources like Nikkei (via Apple Insider).

The cost estimate for the iPhone 15 Pro Max comes from a teardown by Nihon Keizai Shimbun and Fomalhaut Techno Solutions of Japan. According to the report, it costs Apple $558 to manufacture the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which is a 12% increase compared to the iPhone 14 Pro Max estimates. Despite the increase in manufacturing costs, Apple has not raised consumer prices. This cost increase is notable as the iPhone 14 Pro Max reportedly cost only 3.7% more to build than its predecessor.

Several factors contribute to the higher manufacturing costs of the iPhone 15 Pro Max, including the display, titanium frame, and the A17 Pro chip, which are more expensive components compared to the previous model. Additionally, the new tetraprism telephoto lens, a first for the iPhone lineup, is about four times more expensive than the previous zoom camera.

The display of the iPhone 15 Pro Max costs 10% more than the previous version, and the A17 Pro chip is 27% more expensive than the A16 Bionic. The titanium-aluminum frame is 43% more expensive than the stainless steel chassis from the previous year.

It is not just the iPhone 15 Pro Max that has become more costly to manufacture. The report suggests that the iPhone 15 Pro costs Apple $523 to produce, which is 8% more than its predecessor, while the estimated manufacturing cost of the iPhone 15 Plus is around $442, making it 10% more expensive than the previous Plus model.

Finally, the iPhone 15’s bill of materials is estimated to be around $423, a significant 16% increase compared to the estimates for the iPhone 14. As we have previously highlighted, the iPhone 15 offers a better value proposition than its predecessor, essentially presenting a repackaged iPhone 14 Pro that retails for $799 instead of $999.