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Apple hikes MacBook and iPad prices worldwide as AI‑driven memory shortage spikes costs
Apple announced a blanket price increase for its MacBook and iPad lines, citing an unprecedented surge in DRAM and NAND flash costs driven by rapid expansion of artificial‑intelligence data centres. Base prices for the MacBook Neo rose from $599 to $699, the MacBook Air (512 GB) from $1,099 to $1,299, and the 14‑inch MacBook Pro (1 TB) from $1,699 to $1,999. iPad Air pricing moved from $599 to $749 and the iPad Pro (256 GB) from $999 to $1,199. Apple said it had “shielded our customers” until now but could no longer absorb the component price surge.
The price hikes affect most of Apple’s product range except the iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods, which remain unchanged. The announcement triggered a sharp market reaction, with Apple shares falling about 6% and an estimated $250 billion of market value erased. Memory‑chip prices have quadrupled in the past year as AI‑focused data‑center builders hoard high‑bandwidth memory.
Retailers in several countries have reported the new prices, with local listings showing comparable increases in Turkey, Germany, Portugal and other markets. Some inventory sold before the change, such as Amazon’s Prime‑Day MacBook deals, remains at pre‑increase prices, offering temporary relief to buyers.