Apple Raises Prices on Macs, iPads and Other Products Due to Memory Chip Shortage

Apple raised prices globally on MacBooks, iPads, and other hardware on June 25, 2026, to offset skyrocketing memory and storage costs. Driven by the AI boom and data center demand, component prices have quadrupled over three quarters. While iPhone prices remain unchanged, Apple's stock fell up to 6% on the news, wiping out $250 billion in market value. Other tech giants like Microsoft also announced price hikes, signaling broad industry pressure from the severe chip shortage.

Apple product price increases

• ▪The price of the entry-level MacBook Neo increased by $100, rising from $599 to $699
• ▪Apple raised prices globally on June 25, 2026, for its MacBooks, iPads, home devices, and the Vision Pro headset
• ▪Apple kept prices unchanged for the iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods during the June 25, 2026, price adjustments

Memory chip shortage

• ▪The global memory market is dominated by Samsung, SK Hynix, Kioxia, Micron Technology, and Sandisk
• ▪An ongoing memory and storage chip shortage, driven by the artificial intelligence boom, prompted Apple's price increases

AI data center demand

• ▪The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence data centers has created an extraordinary surge in demand for memory and storage
• ▪Microsoft's Xbox division raised prices by $100 to $150 on certain console models due to rising storage and memory costs

Apple stock decline

• ▪The drop in Apple's stock price on June 25, 2026, wiped out approximately $250 billion in market value
• ▪Apple shares fell between 4.5% and 6% on June 25, 2026, following the announcement of the product price hikes

Component cost inflation

• ▪Memory and storage prices quadrupled over three quarters as suppliers shifted production toward high-bandwidth memory for AI servers
• ▪Micron Technology's gross margin jumped from 39% a year ago to 84.9% in its most recent quarter due to the memory crisis

iPhone memory upgrades

• ▪International Data Corporation expects all new iPhone models to transition to 12GB of RAM to support Apple Intelligence features
• ▪International Data Corporation estimates that approximately 54% of iPhones shipped since 2022 will not support the new Siri experience