Apple raises iPad and Mac prices following months of RAM and SSD shortages

Apple has increased prices across several Mac and iPad models this week, citing rapidly rising component costs. While many Mac and iPad models will now cost more, the recently launched MacBook Neo is not increasing in price for now. 

As reported by The Wall Street Journal (paywalled), Apple told partners that it has been hit by unusually steep component price hikes. PCGamer shared the key quote from the WSJ report, in which Apple said: “We have now reached a point where we need to begin raising prices. We have never seen a component price increase this much, this quickly.”

In the US, some models have seen prices go up by $200 or more. The 14‑inch MacBook Pro with M3 now starts at $1,799, up from $1,599, while the 16‑inch model has increased from $2,499 to $2,699. Higher‑end Mac Mini configurations have also gone up, and certain iPad Pro and iPad Air models have seen similar adjustments tied to RAM and SSD costs. Interestingly, the newly launched MacBook Neo is not included in the price hikes, so Apple seems keen to keep that laptop within the purchase-power range of students.

The increases follow a sustained rise in DRAM and NAND flash pricing throughout late 2025, driven by supply constraints and renewed demand from AI data‑centres. Analysts expect elevated component costs to continue into next year, putting pressure on device manufacturers across the industry. Just this past week, Valve also had to announce some shockingly high prices for its new Steam Machine, later confirming that the current price is far beyond what was originally planned in 2023.

KitGuru Says: Apple is the latest major hardware maker to adjust pricing in response to rising memory and storage costs. With component prices still trending upward, further changes from other manufacturers would not be surprising.

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