Across the computing industry, computer memory (both in the form of RAM and flash storage) has only been getting more and more expensive – largely due to supply shortages caused by AI datacenter buildout. Memory prices have up to quadrupled in recent months, and it’s likely going to worsen.
That leaves the question: will Apple be adjusting its own memory prices?
New Macs coming soon
Apple is likely going to be releasing new Macs very soon, with M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models expected imminently. While Apple is yet to adjust its pricing, if the company were to do so, it’d likely do it during a new product rollout.
That said, I personally find it unlikely that Apple will adjust its pricing with these new Macs, though it is certainly possible.
Even though memory prices have skyrocketed, Apple’s memory prices already had a very high profit margin baked into them. With current memory prices, Apple isn’t losing money, so there isn’t an immediate need to adjust.
For example, Apple charges $400 to upgrade from 16GB to 32GB of unified memory across its Mac lineup. At the moment, a stick of 16GB DDR5 (which isn’t exactly an apples-to-apples comparison, but its close) costs around $230 at the time of writing.
At the higher end, Apple charges $800 to upgrade from 64GB to 128GB of unified memory. On its own, a kit of 64GB DDR5 costs around $700 at the moment.
This is definitely much closer, and Apple’s margins are potentially going to be taking a beating compared to normal. However, its important to remember that Apple likely has long term supply agreements in place, so it seems rather unlikely that there’ll be an immediate increase in Apple’s memory pricing – though it might mean upcoming Macs will be harder to get in a timely manner because of supply shortages.
M6 Macs later in the year
Remember when I mentioned things are only going to worsen? According to a CNBC report based on industry analysis, memory prices by the end of Q1 2026 will increase roughly 55% compared to the end of Q4 2025.
If that projection holds true, then Apple will likely be losing money with its current RAM pricing structure. That’ll open the door to Apple raising memory prices with the M6 Mac family, which might debut beginning in the summer.
It’s also worth noting that Apple is starting to lose priority at TSMC as AI companies like Nvidia now have more cash to spend. That’s likely true for other Apple component suppliers as well – meaning that Apple’s previously negotiated supply agreements might not carry weight throughout the rest of the year.
Wrap up
Ultimately, this is all just speculation. It’s also worth noting that my comparisons are based on what retailers are able to sell consumer RAM sticks at, and it isn’t necessarily indicative of what prices Apple will need to pay.
For that reason, as well as the fact that Apple likely negotiated memory prices for its M5 devices in advance to the shortage, I don’t think there’ll be an immediate increase in Apple’s memory prices. If things don’t improve though, it seems far more likely that prices will have to increase by the time M6 devices begin to roll out.
If you’re someone in need of a Mac with a higher amount of memory, you might want to consider buying now if you’re worried about paying higher prices. Amazon currently has the M4 Max 16-inch MacBook Pro with 48GB of memory on sale for $3597, a $400 discount. If you need more memory than that, you can check Apple’s website.
For most people though, I don’t think there’s an immediate risk. Last year, tariff threats seemed really bad for Apple, and yet the company has largely managed to navigate it without any price increases for customers. I may be a little optimistic, but there are a good number of reasons to not be concerned right now.
My favorite Apple accessory recommendations:
- Anker MagSafe/Qi2 Ultra-Slim Battery Pack
- AirPods Pro 3 (2x ANC vs AirPods Pro 2!)
- Anker Nano 45W Fast Charger with Smart Display
- Anker 3-in-1 Prime 25W MagSafe Charging Stand
- Logitech MX Master 4 Mouse for Mac
- Satechi OntheGo 7-in-1 USB-C hub
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