iPhone 18 Pro price hike and “nerfed” again? The 1TB and 2TB versions reportedly switch to QLC NAND—slower speeds and a halved lifespan.

Leaks indicate that Apple's new iPhone 18 Pro series will see price increases, while the 1TB and 2TB high-capacity versions are quietly downgraded from TLC to QLC NAND, potentially reducing write speed and durability. However, the 256GB and 512GB versions will retain the TLC specification unchanged. (Background: Apple's 200k confidential documents leaked, including unreleased iPhone 18 Pro component diagrams and confidential supplier lists..) (Background supplement: TSMC's 2nm chips too expensive! Apple's iPhone 17 Pro reportedly continues with 3nm, NVIDIA and Qualcomm may switch orders?)

Table of Contents

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• 1TB and 2TB versions switch to QLC, 256GB and 512GB retain TLC
• TLC vs QLC Technical Differences: Speed vs Durability Trade-offs
• Cost Pressure: 256GB flash memory cost surges from $13 to $51

According to leaker Reptalica, Apple is expected to raise the prices of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, but the storage specifications of the high-capacity versions may see a "hidden downgrade" adjustment, drawing market attention.

1TB and 2TB versions switch to QLC, 256GB and 512GB retain TLC

The information indicates that the 256GB and 512GB versions will continue to use TLC NAND flash memory supplied by SK Hynix, Kioxia, and SanDisk; as for the 1TB and 2TB versions, they may primarily switch to QLC NAND.

In terms of specific configuration, the 1TB version mainly uses SK Hynix's BC8Q-1T QLC NAND, with a small number of units possibly mixing Samsung's 3DV8 1TB TLC NAND as a "rare alternative." The 2TB version is said to use SK Hynix BC8Q-2T QLC NAND; the leaker notes that this chip is of enterprise-grade design, with potentially weaker random 4K performance. For comparison, the previous generation iPhone 17 Pro Max's 2TB version still uses TLC NAND.

TLC vs QLC Technical Differences: Speed vs Durability Trade-offs

From a technical perspective, TLC (Triple-Level Cell) NAND stores 3 bits of data per cell, typically offering faster and more stable write speeds, with durability generally superior to QLC NAND; QLC (Quad-Level Cell) stores 4 bits per cell, with advantages in higher storage density and lower cost, but write speed and stability are generally inferior. For professional users who need to frequently write large amounts of data, the performance gap in QLC's random write can create noticeable differences in user experience.

Notably, all iPhone 18 Pro models use Apple's self-developed S6E PHY (3nm, PCIe 5.0 x1 PHY, packaged with NAND), so the storage controller itself is not downgraded; the issue lies in the specification differences of the NAND chips themselves.

Cost Pressure: 256GB NAND flash cost surges from $13 to $51

As for the reason Apple may adjust the storage configuration for high-capacity versions, reports suggest it is related to cost pressure. Data indicates that the flash memory cost for a 256GB iPhone 18 Pro may rise from $13 per unit for the corresponding iPhone 17 Pro model to $51 per unit, an increase of nearly 4 times. This means that even if Apple raises selling prices, the upward pressure on component costs remains considerable.

In terms of retail prices, the market expects the starting prices for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max to reach $1,399 and $1,499 respectively, a significant increase over the previous generation. If the related leaks are true, the relative appeal of the 256GB and 512GB versions may thus increase — consumers might find that choosing mid-capacity versions actually yields better storage performance.

Overall, the current information comes from leaks and reports; Apple has not officially announced the final storage configuration and pricing for the iPhone 18 Pro series, and the actual specifications await confirmation at the official launch event.