Apple hikes MacBook and iPad prices as global memory chip shortage deepens

A worldwide shortage of DRAM and SSD memory chips is driving sharp price increases across the tech industry. Forecasts from Jefferies and Gartner suggest memory component costs could rise 40‑50 % by late 2026 and total price inflation of 150‑205 % by the end of 2027, threatening the viability of low‑cost PCs.

Apple announced an immediate price increase for most of its MacBook and iPad lineup, citing the inability to absorb higher memory‑chip costs. Prices for entry‑level MacBook Neo and higher‑spec MacBook Air, Pro, as well as iPad Air and Pro models, rose by roughly 15‑20 %, triggering a more than 5 % drop in Apple’s share price, its biggest one‑day fall since April 2025.

The company is also preparing its annual September event, expected on Sept. 8‑9, to unveil the iPhone 18 series, which will feature larger memory capacities but will also be affected by the same component crunch. The memory shortage is influencing other major chipmakers and has prompted lawsuits in California alleging coordinated price‑fixing by Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron.