The AI Boom Just Made Your Next MacBook and iPad Pricier
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Apple has increased prices for select MacBook and iPad models, citing rising memory and storage chip costs as demand from artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure continues to strain global semiconductor supplies.
The price revision affects select MacBook Neo, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iPad Air and iPad Pro Wi-Fi models. Analysts say the move signals a broader shift in the consumer electronics industry, with manufacturers facing mounting pressure from higher component costs.
In India, the revised pricing has made several Apple devices significantly more expensive. The MacBook Neo now starts at ₹79,900, up from ₹69,900, while the 13-inch MacBook Air now costs ₹1,49,900 instead of ₹1,19,900 and the 15-inch MacBook Air is priced at ₹1,79,900, up from ₹1,49,900.
The MacBook Pro lineup has seen the steepest increase, with prices rising by up to ₹70,000 depending on the configuration. The iPad Air now starts at ₹74,900, compared with ₹59,900 earlier, while the 11-inch iPad Pro Wi-Fi has become costlier at ₹1,19,900, up from ₹99,900.
According to Prabhu Ram, Vice President at CyberMedia Research (CMR), the memory market is undergoing a structural transformation rather than a typical semiconductor cycle.
"The memory cost environment is undergoing a fundamental shift. AI infrastructure investments are reshaping demand, with memory suppliers increasingly prioritising production for AI data centres, creating a more constrained and expensive environment for consumer electronics manufacturers," he said.
Ram added that Apple has historically been well-positioned to absorb supply chain shocks and component cost volatility. "The fact that it is now passing some of these costs on to consumers is a significant signal for the broader industry," he noted.
Analysts at Counterpoint Research said memory prices have risen more than fourfold since the fourth quarter of 2025, significantly squeezing profit margins across the consumer electronics sector.
Research Director Tarun Pathak said Apple had managed to keep prices stable until now despite mounting cost pressures.
Counterpoint expects other PC and tablet makers to respond with selective price increases, fewer promotional discounts and a stronger focus on premium devices as higher memory costs continue to impact the industry.
