Apple forced to raise prices as AI boom drives memory chip costs through the roof

Apple plans price increases as CEO Tim Cook cites rising chip costs from AI boom

Apple plans 15-20% price increases on MacBooks and iPhones in 2026 as DRAM/NAND costs surge 10-25% year-over-year from AI infrastructure builders monopolizing global chip supply. Memory supply contracts expire January 2026 in a seller's market—new agreements will lock Apple's cost structure for years, eroding the margin predictability that powered its financial discipline.