These early days of AI improvement are full of guarantees, potential, pleasure, hallucinations, and abominations. These early days are additionally costing us some huge cash, too. Take RAM, for instance. Costs have skyrocketed as a result of demand has skyrocketed, because of AI infrastructure wants. Thus far, the Apple client hasn’t been affected, however that might change quickly.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo lately posted an evaluation of the RAM market and the way Apple might deal with the scenario surrounding its most essential product, the iPhone. The TLDR model: Kuo thinks Apple will do what it could actually to “at the very least preserve the beginning worth flat” for the iPhone 18 launch this fall. In keeping with Kuo, Apple could also be keen to take successful to its margins within the quick time period to tempt consumers as Android producers improve their costs. The misplaced income might be made up via its Companies division, he steered.
Apple’s Companies have been posting file quarters for a while now, and its margins are most likely fairly favorable for Apple (and largely unaffected by rising element prices). So Kuo’s concept is sensible, however–stepping outdoors of Kuo’s evaluation now–can Companies income actually develop sufficient to offset the elevated value? It’s onerous to inform what’s going to occur, not simply with the RAM market, which Kuo expects to proceed all through 2026, however with something within the provide chain. (Kuo reviews that “different elements might additionally run quick because the AI server growth continues to squeeze the remainder of the provision chain.” And I’m not even contemplating any potential tariffs.)
Even with out realizing Apple’s technique, budgets, and inner numbers, it looks as if {hardware} worth will increase should occur in some unspecified time in the future, and the Mac looks as if a product the place Apple might increase costs. If Apple is adamant about conserving iPhone costs flat, Macs are a sufficiently big market to assist keep Apple’s general profitability, however sufficiently small in order that any adverse response or a lower in gross sales may be absorbed within the quick run. Plus, it’s the one product the place RAM is bought individually, so Apple has some flexibility with pricing.
Throughout Apple’s first quarter 2026 monetary outcomes name, Apple CEO Tim Prepare dinner was requested in regards to the impact of the RAM scenario on Apple. “We’re at the moment constrained, and at this level it’s tough to foretell when provide and demand will stability,” he mentioned. “Right now we’re seeing much less flexibility within the provide chain than regular, partly due to our elevated demand.”
Prepare dinner additionally famous that whereas “reminiscence had a minimal impression” on the primary quarter that simply completed, he does anticipate “it to be “a bit extra of an impression” going ahead, with wholesale pricing for reminiscence “rising considerably.” Prepare dinner didn’t remark particularly on how RAM and different provide chain points will have an effect on pricing, solely to say Apple will “have a look at a spread of choices to take care of that.”
Later this yr, Apple reportedly can be releasing a revamped MacBook Professional with M6 chips, OLED touchscreen shows, and a thinner design. Increased costs for these laptops gained’t fly underneath the radar, however they would definitely be camouflaged by the dramatic product adjustments. With the provision change points now affecting manufacturing, it looks as if best timing for a Mac worth improve within the second half of this yr.
So should you’re planning on shopping for a Mac later this yr, be ready. Or purchase one now. And if nothing occurs, nicely, then, take that money you saved and purchase your self some new AirTags.
