Apple announced a broad price increase on Thursday for its Mac computers and iPad tablets, citing a sharp rise in component costs. The company said the MacBook Neo, which recently gained popularity as a lower-priced model, will rise from a starting price of $599 to $699.
Other Mac models are also getting more expensive. The MacBook Air will cost $200 more, with the base model starting at $1,299, while the MacBook Pro will jump from $1,699 to $1,999. In the iPad line, the base model will now cost $449, the iPad Mini will start at $599, the iPad Air will rise by $150 from $599 to $749, and iPad Pro models will begin at $1,199.
Apple said iPhone prices, its smartwatches, and AirPods will remain unchanged for now. However, the article says prices are expected to reach iPhones in September, when the company is due to launch the new iPhone 18 lineup.
The company said the increase was now “inevitable” because of the spike in parts prices, especially rising demand for RAM used in artificial intelligence servers. CEO Tim Cook said, “We tried to shield our customers from the price increases, but the situation has become impossible.” He added, “We know this news will not be welcome, and we are working to find solutions,” and said Apple had “never seen such a large and rapid increase in component prices.”
