New Delhi: Apple has announced one of its biggest global pricing revisions in recent years, significantly increasing the prices of several MacBook and iPad models, including in India, as soaring semiconductor costs begin to reshape the consumer technology industry.
The company attributed the move to an unprecedented rise in the prices of memory and storage components such as DRAM and NAND flash chips, which are witnessing massive demand due to the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure and data centres worldwide.
As technology companies race to build AI capabilities, chip manufacturers have increasingly prioritised supplies for enterprise and data centre customers, reducing availability for consumer electronics manufacturers. The shift has pushed up component costs across the industry, affecting laptops, tablets and other devices.
Despite its reputation for efficient supply chain management and its ability to absorb rising costs, Apple said the current surge in semiconductor prices has reached a level that can no longer be fully offset internally, making price increases unavoidable.
In India, some of the biggest hikes have been seen across the iPad and MacBook lineup. Prices of certain iPad models have risen by more than 40 per cent, while several MacBook variants have become between 20 and 30 per cent more expensive. Products including the Mac Mini, Apple TV and HomePod have also witnessed notable increases.
Interestingly, Apple’s flagship iPhone lineup has been excluded from the latest round of revisions. Industry analysts believe the company is avoiding price increases ahead of its annual iPhone launch cycle scheduled later this year, as higher prices could affect demand in an already weakening smartphone market.
However, experts believe the reprieve may only be temporary, with expectations growing that iPhone prices could also rise in the coming months as the impact of rising component costs spreads across Apple’s entire product ecosystem.
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