AI Chip Shortage Forces Apple Price Hikes, Even as Sales Surge 17%

Apple raised MacBook and iPad prices in June 2026, citing surging memory costs. The driver: AI infrastructure demand has starved consumer-grade DRAM and NAND supplies, forcing foundries to prioritize server chips over consumer modules. The contradiction is stark—device sales grew 17% in early 2026, giving Apple pricing power, yet component scarcity now outweighs that leverage. The move signals even Apple's supply-chain hedging has limits in a memory market reshaped by AI investment.