Apple is likely to raise the prices of its products due to rising memory chip costs. Apple CEO Tim Cook told the Wall Street Journal that price hikes have become “unavoidable.” He said the company tried hard to protect customers from the increases, but the situation is now unsustainable.
The main reason is the huge global demand for AI technology. Companies building AI data centers need large amounts of high-speed memory and storage chips. This has caused shortages of RAM and NAND flash memory used in smartphones, laptops, and other devices. Chip makers like Micron and Samsung are prioritizing AI needs, driving prices much higher.
Experts say the cost of memory chips for devices like the iPhone 17 Pro has increased sharply, sometimes up to four times. For the upcoming iPhone 18 series, expected in September 2026, this could mean higher prices, though Apple has not confirmed the exact models or quantities.
This memory crunch is affecting the whole tech industry. Many experts predict that smartphone prices worldwide may rise significantly in 2026 due to ongoing supply chain problems. Apple, like other companies, is passing on some of these extra costs to buyers.
