Apple and Microsoft Xbox price hikes driven by memory and component shortages

memory shortage price hikes Apple Xbox component costs

Apple raised prices on its MacBooks, iPads, Apple TV, HomePod and Vision Pro as memory costs surged, with memory prices up about 98% in the first quarter and projected to rise further. CEO Tim Cook cited an "unsustainable" shortage caused by aggressive buying, while Micron executive Sumit Sadana warned that the same demand pressure hurt suppliers’ margins.

Starting August 1, Microsoft announced price increases for its Xbox Series X and Series S consoles, citing rising RAM and NAND costs that it calls the ongoing "Rampocalypse." The digital Series X will move to $749 from $599 and the Series S to $499 from $399, with higher‑end models also climbing. Analysts expect component prices to keep climbing through 2028, signalling a broader trend of higher consumer‑device costs.

Both companies attribute the price adjustments to a tightening supply of memory and storage components, highlighting a market‑wide challenge that is pushing up costs for a range of consumer electronics.

Sources

Apple and Micron Blame Each Other for Price Hikes and Memory Shortage [www.ibtimes.co.uk]

25 days ago

Xbox Series X|S prices jump on August 1 — track every deal before consoles rise another $100–$150 and possibly even more in 2027 [www.windowscentral.com]

27 days ago