EL7.AI
StocksMediumUpdated•Originally published 25 June 2026•Updated 26 June 2026•
1 min read

Apple hikes Mac and iPad prices as AI boom drives memory chip costs

Digital collage of Tim Cook, Apple logo, MacBook, and memory chips against an orange background with financial charts.

Key Facts

1Apple raised iPad and MacBook prices on Thursday, saying it could no longer shield customers from soaring memory and storage chip costs driven by the AI industry's datacenter buildout.
2The increases come a week after Tim Cook said higher memory costs made them 'unavoidable'.

In a move that underscores how the AI boom is reshaping the electronics supply chain, Apple raised prices on its iPads and MacBooks on Thursday, saying it could no longer shield customers from soaring memory and storage chip costs. The increases come a week after CEO Tim Cook described higher memory costs as 'unavoidable'. Some models now see at least $200 price jumps, according to Reuters.

The price hike comes amid a global memory-chip rally driven by massive demand from AI datacenters, which has lifted DRAM and NAND prices significantly. Apple had previously absorbed some of these component cost increases, but sustained pressure has forced it to pass costs to consumers. Analysts expect memory makers like Samsung to benefit from the trend, while investors will watch demand elasticity in the coming quarter.

Apple shares (AAPL) closed at $293.08 on June 24, 2026, with a daily range of $292.94 to $299.70. Investors are now focused on Apple's next earnings report in late July to assess the pricing impact on unit sales, especially as consumer tech demand faces renewed inflation headwinds.