Apple Raises Mac and iPad Prices as AI-Fueled Chip Costs Surge
Apple announced major price increases late Thursday for its Mac computers and iPads, citing a severe memory-chip shortage driven by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence. The company said the surge in demand for AI data centers has pushed memory and storage chip prices sharply higher, describing the situation as an “unprecedented challenge” for consumer electronics.
Apple, based in Cupertino, California, said it had tried to absorb the higher component costs for as long as possible. “We have reached a point where we need to start raising prices on several products, including today’s increases for iPad and Mac,” the company said. “We know this is not welcome news, and we are working tirelessly to find solutions.”
Several products were affected. The entry-level MacBook Neo now costs $699 instead of $599. The 512-gigabyte MacBook Air rose to $1,299 from $1,099, and the 1-terabyte MacBook Pro increased to $1,999 from $1,699. iPad prices also climbed, with the 128-gigabyte iPad Air rising to $749 from $599 and the 256-gigabyte WiFi iPad Pro going to $1,199 from $999.
Industry analysts said iPhone prices may rise later this year as well. IDC analyst Nabila Popal said the increases could be steeper than expected and may reach $200 for the iPhone Pro and Pro Max models. Apple shares fell 4.5% the previous day to $279.88, down $13.29.
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