Apple Raises MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and iPad Air Prices; Will iPhone Rate in India Jump? Check Latest Prices

Apple, the world's most valuable consumer technology company and the maker of the iPhone, MacBook and iPad, has increased prices for several MacBook and iPad models after a sharp jump in memory and storage chip costs driven by the global artificial intelligence (AI) boom. The latest price revision comes as demand for high-performance chips from AI data centres continues to tighten supply across the semiconductor industry.

Apple Increases MacBook and iPad Prices

Apple has revised the prices of multiple MacBook and iPad models, citing unprecedented inflation in component costs. The company said it had managed to absorb rising expenses for several months, but the sustained increase in memory and storage chip prices has now made selective price hikes unavoidable.

"We have never seen a component price increase this much, this quickly," Apple said in a statement, adding that it could no longer shield customers from the impact of soaring hardware costs.

The move affects several MacBook and iPad variants but leaves Apple's most important product, the iPhone, untouched for now.

Latest Apple Device Prices After the Hike

Following the revision, the entry-level MacBook Neo now starts at $699, up from $599 at launch. The MacBook Air with 512GB storage has been increased to $1,299 from $1,099, while the MacBook Pro with 1TB storage now costs $1,999, compared with $1,699 earlier.

Apple has also raised the starting price of the iPad Air with 128GB storage to $749, an increase of $150 from its earlier price of $599.

The revisions represent one of Apple's most notable pricing changes in recent years outside of annual product launches.

Will iPhone Prices Also Increase As Apple Raises MacBook and iPad Rates

At present, Apple has not announced any price increase for the iPhone.

The iPhone remains the company's biggest revenue generator and the backbone of its hardware and services ecosystem. Keeping iPhone prices unchanged suggests Apple is attempting to protect demand in its largest product category while passing on higher component costs only in selected devices.

However, Apple has not ruled out future pricing changes. If memory chip prices continue climbing or supply remains constrained, analysts believe pricing decisions for future iPhone models will largely depend on manufacturing costs, consumer demand and competitive conditions.

Why Is Apple Raising Prices?

The primary reason behind the price increase is the sharp rise in the cost of DRAM memory and storage chips.

The explosive growth of artificial intelligence has triggered massive investments in AI data centres worldwide. These facilities require enormous quantities of high-performance memory to train and run advanced AI models, significantly increasing demand for DRAM chips.

As AI infrastructure spending accelerates, memory manufacturers are prioritising supplies for data centre operators and AI hardware companies, leaving consumer electronics manufacturers facing tighter availability and substantially higher costs.

Industry tracker TrendForce estimates that DRAM prices surged by as much as 98% during the first quarter of 2026 and could rise by another 58% to 63% during the current quarter. Such an extraordinary increase has forced even companies with strong supply-chain bargaining power, such as Apple, to reconsider pricing.

Apple had already cautioned investors earlier this year that memory costs would become a significant headwind beyond the June quarter, signalling that pressure on margins was likely to intensify.

MacBook Neo Loses Its Budget Advantage

The biggest impact may be on the MacBook Neo, Apple's newest entry-level laptop.

Launched as an affordable Mac designed to compete with budget Windows laptops and Chromebooks, the Neo initially carried a starting price of $599. With the increase to $699, much of its pricing advantage has disappeared.

The higher price places it closer to competing premium Windows laptops while also widening the gap with several Chromebook models, potentially making it a tougher sell among students, first-time buyers and price-conscious consumers.

Will iPhone, MacBook and iPad Become Costlier in India?

Apple has not announced any immediate changes to pricing in India.

However, Indian consumers planning to purchase a MacBook or iPad should closely monitor prices on Apple's official India store and authorised retailers. Global price revisions do not always translate directly into India, as local pricing also depends on exchange rates, import duties, inventory levels and promotional offers.