Even Apple, the company with one of the the strongest supply chains on the planet, says it can no longer shield customers from the impact of RAM prices.
They just announced price increases across several MacBooks and iPads.
Apple’s entry-level MacBook Neo jumps from $599 to $699, while some higher-end MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models are seeing increases of several hundred dollars.
Apple isn’t blaming tariffs, supply chain disruptions, or a new product redesign. It’s blaming AI.
RAM and storage makers have shifted their attention toward AI companies, where those companies are willing to sign long-term deals and pay premium prices for RAM and storage.
As a result, less RAM is available for the smartphones, tablets, and laptops that most of us buy every day.
The numbers are becoming difficult to ignore.
Price trends suggest DRAM prices nearly doubled during the first quarter of 2026 and could continue climbing.
And if Apple is raising prices, smaller PC makers may be facing an even tougher situation.
Just yesterday people were furious over Valve for raising prices for their hardware and today we hear about Apple.
It’s just sad that tech hardware is going through such a hard phase.

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Apple has announced price increases across several MacBook and iPad models, citing rising RAM and storage costs rather than tariffs or supply chain issues. The company attributes the increases to AI companies signing long-term deals and paying premium prices for DRAM and storage, leaving less supply available for consumer devices. DRAM prices reportedly nearly doubled in Q1 2026 and may continue rising. Smaller PC makers are expected to face even greater pressure, and Valve also recently raised hardware prices in the same period.

Apple raising their hardware prices