Apple has raised the prices of its Macs and iPads by as much as 30 per cent in Australia in the wake of the memory and storage shortage that is gripping the technology category.
But Apple has left the pricing of its iPhones, arguably its most popular products, untouched.
That is all going to change come September after Apple CEO Tim Cook admitted last week that prices would increase with the release of the iPhone 18.
So why is this happening?
Apple is blaming the shortage of memory and storage combined with the increased demand for these components required for data centres to power AI features.
And now with the need for more processing power to enable features like Siri AI and Apple Intelligence, Apple’s demand for these components is greater than ever.
Apple says it had been absorbing the costs but according to Tim Cook this was now become “unsustainable”.
In the Wall Street Journal, Cook likened the situation to a 100-year flood.
“I’ve never seen anything like it in any area in over 40 years,” he said.
Over the weekend pricing for Macs and iPads worldwide has increased by as much as 30 per cent.
In the case of the popular entry-level iPad used to cost $599 but today it is priced at $749.
The impressive MacBook Neo, which used to be priced at $899, has now broken the $1,000 mark and will set you back $1,049, an increase of 17 per cent.
Apple’s most popular laptop, the MacBook Air was priced at $1,799 and now sits at $2,099, which represents a 17 per cent price hike.
And the pain gets even worse if you’re looking to buy the pro-level Mac Studio, which did start at $3,499 but has risen by $800 to $4,299 – a rise of 23 per cent.
The MacBook Pro 14-inch was $2,699 and has now gone up by $500 (19 per cent) to $3,199.
The beloved iMac used to be priced at $1,999. Customers now have to find an extra $400 to afford its new price tag of $2,399 – a 20 per cent increase.
The HomePod Mini, Apple TV 4K, and Vision Pro have also had their prices raised by 34 per cent, 37 per cent and 5 per cent respectively.
iPADS
| Device | Old price | Current price | Increase (%) |
| iPad | $599 | $749 | $150 (25%) |
| iPad Air 11 | $999 | $1,249 | $250 (25%) |
| iPad Air 13 | $1,349 | $1,599 | $250 (19%) |
| iPad Pro 11 | $1,699 | $1,999 | $300 (18%) |
| iPad Pro 13 | $2,199 | $2,599 | $400 (18%) |
| iPad mini | $799 | $949 | $150 (19%) |
| Macs | |||
| MacBook Neo | $899 | $1,049 | $150 (17%) |
| MacBook Neo 512GB with Touch ID | $1,099 | $1,249 | $150 (14%) |
| MacBook Air 13 | $1,799 | $2,099 | $300 (17%) |
| MacBook Air 15 | $2,199 | $2,499 | $300 (14%) |
| MacBook Pro 14-inch M5 | $2,699 | $3,199 | $500 (19%) |
| Mac mini | $999 | $1,299 | $300 (30%) |
| iMac | $1,999 | $2,399 | $400 (20%) |
| Mac Studio (M4 Max) | AU$3,499 | AU$4,299 | AU$800 (23%) |
OTHERS
| Device | Old price | Current price | Increase (%) |
| HomePod mini | $149 | $199 | $50 (34%) |
| HomePod | $479 | $549 | $70 (15%) |
| Apple TV 4K | $219 | $299 | $80 (37%) |
| Vision Pro | $5,999 | $6,299 | $300 (5%) |
