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Apple has raised prices across several MacBook, iPad, Apple TV, HomePod, and Vision Pro models after memory and storage costs climbed sharply. The company says an unprecedented rise in RAM and SSD prices, driven by demand from artificial intelligence data centers, left it with little choice but to increase prices.
Meanwhile, memory manufacturer Micron has suggested the shortage was also shaped by aggressive purchasing practices during the industry's downturn in 2023. Although the company did not name Apple directly, its comments came shortly after Apple blamed memory suppliers for the latest wave of price increases.
Apple announced broad price increases on June 25, affecting multiple hardware products while leaving iPhone prices unchanged. According to the company, the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure has created exceptional demand for memory and storage chips, reducing available supply for consumer electronics.
CEO Tim Cook said the current market conditions are unlike anything Apple has experienced before. He stated, “There's less supply at a time when consumers want devices and the memory guys are passing along huge price increases.” Cook also described the situation as “unavoidable” and “unsustainable.”
Market data supports the broader supply trend. Research firms reported that memory and storage prices are now roughly four times higher than they were several quarters ago. TrendForce estimated memory chip prices rose by as much as 98% during the first quarter of 2026 and could increase by another 58% to 63% in the following quarter.
Those higher component costs have reached consumers. Apple's MacBook Neo increased from $599 to $699, while several MacBook and iPad models received price increases ranging from $100 to $300. Apple also confirmed that the affected devices did not receive additional memory or storage upgrades despite the higher prices.
Shortly after Apple's announcement, Micron Chief Business Officer Sumit Sadana offered a different explanation for today's supply constraints during an interview with The Wall Street Journal. He said some major customers pushed suppliers to accept extremely low prices during the memory market collapse in 2023.
Sadana said, “We told a couple of the customers who were being very aggressive with pricing at that time that this is not constructive.” He added that poor pricing and weak margins forced many companies across the industry to reduce investment in new production capacity.
Although Sadana never identified Apple by name, Apple is widely known for negotiating long-term supply agreements and purchasing large volumes of memory components for its products. During 2023, Micron reported deeply negative margins as the memory market experienced one of its weakest periods in recent years.
The company has since recovered. Micron reported strong quarterly financial results, with revenue rising sharply alongside improved profitability. Its shares climbed after the earnings report, while Apple's stock declined following the announcement of higher product prices.
Industry analysts say both explanations reflect different parts of the same market cycle. AI servers require high-bandwidth memory, which uses far more manufacturing capacity than standard memory found in smartphones and laptops. As more production shifts toward AI hardware, fewer chips remain available for consumer devices.
Meanwhile, reduced investment during the 2023 downturn limited the industry's ability to expand manufacturing before AI demand accelerated. New semiconductor facilities require several years to build and reach full production, meaning additional capacity cannot arrive quickly.
Apple has reportedly started seeking additional memory suppliers, including Chinese manufacturer CXMT, to improve future supply. However, Tim Cook said Apple has no plans to enter the memory business itself.
Several analysts expect memory costs to remain elevated through at least 2027. Research firms also estimate memory could account for a much larger share of smartphone production costs over the next two years, leading some industry observers to expect future iPhone price increases if current market conditions continue.
Also Read:Apple Stock Slides 6% After MacBook and iPad Price Hikes Worldwide
