If you’re planning to upgrade your iPhone or Mac this year, it might be worth bracing yourself. Apple has warned that memory costs are rising sharply, and the pressure is expected to build as the year goes on.
Speaking about its latest financial results (via MacRumors), CEO Tim Cook said that Apple expects “significantly higher memory costs” in the June quarter, with the impact increasing beyond that. In other words, the components that help power everything from iPhones to Macs – particularly RAM and storage – are becoming more expensive.
There is a short-term buffer. Apple has been offsetting some of these costs by selling existing inventory it previously stockpiled, but those reserves will eventually run down. Once that happens, the company will need to absorb higher costs or respond in other ways. Cook didn’t outline specific plans, only saying Apple is exploring “a range of options”.
We’re already seeing signs of strain on the supply side. Apple’s Mac lineup has faced increasingly patchy availability in recent weeks, particularly at the lower end. The base Mac Mini, for example, recently became unavailable to order from Apple’s online store, while higher-memory configurations have been showing extended delivery estimates.
Want something to blame? The same memory components used in consumer devices are currently in high demand for AI servers, which are being prioritised across the supply chain. That leaves less capacity available for products like laptops and desktops, contributing to tighter supply.
Apple hasn’t confirmed any price increases, and it may choose to absorb some of the added cost itself. But if memory prices continue to climb, something will likely have to give – whether that’s pricing, availability, or how future devices are configured.
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