Apple hikes Mac and iPad prices amid AI‑driven memory chip shortage

Apple announced price increases for most of its hardware lineup, including Macs, iPads, Apple TV, HomePod and Vision Pro, while keeping the iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods unchanged. The company said the hikes are driven by a sharp rise in memory‑chip costs caused by AI data‑center builders consuming a large share of DRAM and NAND supplies. Tim Cook told the Wall Street Journal that the surge – with DRAM prices up 90‑100% year‑over‑year – has made the previous pricing “unsustainable”. In the United States and other markets, the adjustments range from $100 to $300 (roughly 15‑30%) per device – for example, MacBook Air models see $200‑plus increases, MacBook Pro‑14 adds $300, iPad Air adds $150, and the entry‑level iPad up $150. Apple also warned that similar increases could affect the upcoming iPhone 18 series. The shortage has boosted profits for memory producers Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron, leading to lawsuits alleging a DRAM cartel. To mitigate the pressure, Apple is lobbying the U.S. government for permission to buy DRAM from Chinese supplier CXMT, a firm on the Pentagon’s restricted‑entity list. Industry analysts expect the memory crunch to persist into 2027‑2028, keeping consumer‑device prices elevated.