Apple's recent price hike has left consumers reeling, with many of its popular devices experiencing substantial increases. Just yesterday, the company officially raised prices on a range of products, including Macs and iPads, with some models seeing jumps of up to $500.
The affected devices include most Macs, which now cost between $200 and $500 more than they did just a day before. Many iPads also saw price hikes, with some models increasing by $100 to $200. Even Apple's "budget" laptop, the MacBook Neo, experienced a nearly 17% price increase, jumping to $699 from its previous launch price of $599.
The price hike is largely due to the global memory shortage, which has driven up the cost of computer components. This shortage has led other companies to raise their prices as well, with Sony, Nintendo, Acer, Dell, and Microsoft all increasing the costs of certain computers and laptops in recent months.
However, not all Apple products were affected by the price hike. The iPhone series, including the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max, as well as the Apple Watch Series 11 and AirPods Max 2, remained unchanged. Additionally, Apple's accessories, such as iPhone cases and Magic Keyboards, also kept their original prices.
So why did Apple choose to keep some products at their original prices? The answer remains unclear, with Apple only commenting on the iPad and Mac price hikes. However, one possible explanation is that the company is waiting for the launch of its new iPhone 18 series, which is expected to arrive in September.
With the iPhone 18 likely to feature new and improved components, Apple may be choosing to keep the current iPhone prices in place to encourage sales before the new models arrive. If this is the case, it's possible that the iPhone price hike will occur shortly after the iPhone 18 is announced, potentially affecting not just iPhones but also Apple Watches and other devices.
In the meantime, consumers who are looking to purchase Apple products may want to consider acting quickly to take advantage of current prices before they increase. With the global memory shortage showing no signs of abating, it's likely that prices will continue to rise in the coming months.
For those looking to purchase Apple devices, here are some of the current deals available:
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds are currently available for $199.00, down from their list price of $249.00.
The Apple iPad 11" A16 128GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Silver, 2025) can be purchased for $299.00, a discount of $50.00 from its list price of $349.00.
The Apple Watch Series 10 GPS 46mm with Jet Black Aluminium Case with Black Sport Band is available for $392.09, down from its list price of $429.00.
The Apple MacBook Air M4 Chip 256GB SSD 16GB RAM 13.6" Laptop (Midnight) can be purchased for $949.00, a discount of $50.00 from its list price of $999.00.
The Apple AirTag Tracker (4-Pack) is currently available for $59.98, down from its list price of $99.00.
The Apple 1M USB-C Woven Charging Cable (3-Pack) can be purchased for $21.99, a discount of $35.01 from its list price of $57.00.
The Apple 1M 15W MagSafe Wireless Charger (1st Gen) is available for $14.99, a discount of $24.01 from its list price of $39.00.
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Heart Rate Wireless Earbuds can be purchased for $179.00, down from their list price of $249.00.
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 (GPS, Cellular, 49mm, Black Ocean Band) is available for $649.00, a discount of $150.00 from its list price of $799.00.
The Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) can be purchased for $279.00, a discount of $120.00 from its list price of $399.00.
