Apple, Microsoft Hike Prices as AI Drives Memory Chip Shortage
Apple said memory and storage chip costs driven by AI demand forced the increases, with some Mac and iPad models rising by $100 to $300.
- On Thursday, June 25, 2026, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced price increases across Mac and iPad lineups, citing an "extraordinary surge" in memory and storage costs driven by AI datacenter demand.
- Industry experts dubbed the supply crisis "RAMageddon," as memory prices surged up to 98% in the first quarter of 2026 due to extreme demand from AI datacenter construction.
- The starting price of the MacBook Air rose to $1,299 and the MacBook Pro to $1,999, prompting Apple stock to fall nearly 6% on Thursday following the announcement.
- Separately, Microsoft announced worldwide Xbox console price increases effective August 1, 2026, reporting that memory and storage chip costs have surged by a factor of 2.5.
- Incoming CEO John Ternus assumes his role September 1, 2026, just before the iPhone launch, as analysts warn of potential price hikes on Apple's flagship device later this year.
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SCIENCE & TECH: Apple hikes MacBook, iPad prices by as much as $500 due to memory chip shortage – here are the products getting hit
Apple on Thursday slapped shocking price hikes on a range of its MacBook, iPad and home devices – raising prices by as much as $500 as it blamed an AI-driven surge in demand for memory chips. Apple’s website briefly went down Thursday morning, then came back online with stunning 15% to 25% price hikes hitting its laptops, tablets, speakers and headsets. The Cupertino, Calif.-based company raised the prices of all of its MacBook and iPad models, …
New Hampshire Union Leader
The Guam Daily PostApple hikes Mac, iPad prices on memory shortage; shares fall
Apple Inc. took the extreme measure of raising prices of all Macs, iPads, home devices and the Vision Pro on Thursday, seeking to offset cost hikes caused by an unprecedented shortage of memory chips and storage.
Apple And Microsoft Hike Base Prices Of Their Devices
Axios reports: People spend a lot of time on their devices. The AI boom means they will also be spending more for them. The enormous sums of money going into the AI race are driving up costs for resources and components throughout the economy. That’s now becoming increasingly apparent to ordinary Americans who might have thought that AI’s impact would be primarily on their jobs. Apple provided the clearest evidence yet Thursday, raising prices b…
Apple Raises Prices on Products, Citing Rising Chip Costs
Apple has announced price increases on several products, including the MacBook Pro and its new Neo laptop, according to company statements released June 25, 2026. The MacBook Pro with one terabyte of storage rose from $1,699 to $1,999 in the United States, the company said. The entry-level Neo laptop in the United Kingdom increased from […]
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