Apple prices are going up: Why South Africans may want to buy now

With Apple’s recent price hikes in the US due to soaring RAM and storage costs, South Africans may want to purchase Apple devices now before similar increases hit local markets. Picture: Michael Sherman/IOL

I generally avoid saying that now is the perfect time to buy a particular product because it can sound like you’re pushing a brand. But when it comes to Apple devices in South Africa, it may actually be true.

Last week, Apple increased prices across its product range in the United States, and those hikes could make their way to South Africa sooner rather than later.

Until now, Apple had largely been insulated from the surge in RAM and storage component prices, which have soared as AI features demand more powerful hardware.

For example on Apple.com, the price of the 15-inch MacBook Air has increased by $100 (about R1,600), while the Mac mini now costs $200 (around R3,200) more.