RAM crisis hits Apple: prices of iPads, Macs, and more products rise

The global RAM crisis, driven by the enormous demand from artificial intelligence data centers, has already reached Apple’s counters. The company confirmed price increases on several of its products, with hikes averaging 20% that mainly affect iPads and Mac computers.

Just a few days ago, CEO Tim Cook acknowledged that maintaining stable prices was unsustainable. Now, the company has announced the first concrete adjustments in its catalog.

According to Apple’s official statement, the AI boom has generated an unprecedented increase in demand for memory and storage. This has extraordinarily driven up the costs of components. Until now, the brand had absorbed part of that impact to protect its customers, but the time has come to pass on the changes.

The MacBook laptops are among the most affected

The 13-inch MacBook Air is one of the most affected by the increase: it rises by 230 euros, which represents a 19% increase. Meanwhile, the powerful MacBook Pro with M5 Max chip increases by up to 600 euros each. These are significant increases that impact the wallets of those looking for these premium machines.

In the desktop segment, the outlook is not better either. The Mac Studio with M3 Ultra chip registers the highest increase, with an additional 1,500 euros. The Mac Mini M4 remains unchanged, although Apple had previously removed its base version, which served as a preventive adjustment.

iPad: the basic model is no longer so accessible

The entry-level iPad with A16 chip, known as the cheapest model, now costs 499 euros, 32% more expensive. The rest of the tablet line also registers increases ranging from 14% to 24%, depending on the model. Thus, access to Apple’s most popular devices becomes more costly.

Even home products are not spared. The Apple TV 4K leads the percentage increase with 36%, reaching 229 euros. The HomePod speakers, both in their standard and advanced versions, also register increases.

Apple emphasizes that this situation responds to an unprecedented challenge in the electronics sector. "We have never seen a component's price rise so much and so quickly," they stated in the announcement. The company assures that it is working on solutions to mitigate the future impact.

Context of a broader crisis

The RAM shortage is not exclusive to Apple. Other manufacturers had already warned about possible increases and even product cancellations. Artificial intelligence is consuming a large portion of the available components to power its data centers, and it does not seem that the situation will normalize in the short term.

For now, the iPhone remains unaffected by these adjustments, although the statement leaves open the possibility of more changes in the catalog. Consumers planning to buy any of these devices will need to consider these new prices, which reflect the pressure that technological advancement exerts on the global supply chain.

The measure raises concerns among users and analysts, as Apple had traditionally managed to maintain stable prices despite market fluctuations. This time, the memory crisis proved too strong. While the company seeks alternatives to stabilize its costs, buyers face a scenario where cutting-edge technology becomes more expensive.