New Delhi, Jan. 3 -- Apple's next wave of flagship iPhones could arrive with higher price tags, as rising chip manufacturing costs threaten to squeeze the company's margins ahead of the expected 2026 launch cycle.

Apple is widely expected to adopt a 2nm manufacturing process for its next-generation mobile chipset in 2026, marking a major technological shift for the iPhone. The move may follow Samsung, which unveiled its 2nm-based Exynos 2600 processor in December.

The new Apple silicon, likely branded as the A20 or A20 Pro, is tipped to power four models scheduled for a September 2026 launch. These are expected to include the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, the successor to the iPhone Air, and the second-generation iPhone Fold.

Accor...