Across the computing industry, computer memory (both in the form of RAM and flash memory) is becoming increasingly expensive, largely due to supply shortages caused by the construction of AI data centers. Memory prices have quadrupled in recent months and are likely to keep getting worse.
That leaves the question: Will Apple adjust its own memory prices?
New Macs coming soon
Apple is likely to release new Mac computers very soon, with the MacBook Pro M5 Pro and M5 Max expected to be released soon. While Apple has yet to adjust its pricing, if the company does, it will likely do so around the time of the new product launch.
However, I personally find it highly unlikely that Apple will adjust its prices for these new Macs, although it is certainly possible.
Although memory prices have skyrocketed, Apple’s memory prices are already very profitable. At current memory prices, Apple isn’t losing money, so there’s no immediate need for a fix.
For example, Apple charges $400 to upgrade the unified storage from 16GB to 32GB on its Mac line. Currently, 16GB of DDR5 memory (not an exact comparison, but close) costs around $230 as of this writing.
At the high end, Apple charges $800 to upgrade from 64GB to 128GB of shared storage. A 64GB DDR5 kit by itself costs about $700 right now.
It’s definitely much closer, and Apple’s margins will potentially be lower than normal. However, it’s important to remember that Apple likely has long-term supply agreements, so it seems unlikely that Apple’s memory prices will rise immediately, although it could mean that it will be harder to get the next Macs on time due to supply shortages.
M6 Mac later this year
Remember when I said it was only going to get worse? According to A CNBC According to the report, based on industry analysis, memory prices will increase by approximately 55% by the end of Q1 2026 compared to the end of Q4 2025.
If this prediction is correct, then Apple is probably losing money with the current RAM pricing structure. That would open the door for Apple to increase memory prices with the Mac M6 family, which could debut in early summer.
It’s also worth noting that Apple is starting to lose priority to TSMC as AI companies like Nvidia now have more money to spend. This is likely to be true for Apple’s other component suppliers as well, meaning that previously agreed Apple supply deals may not carry much weight until the end of the year.
Wrap it up
At the end of the day, these are all just guesses. It should also be noted that my comparisons are based on what retailers can sell the RAM for, and are not necessarily indicative of the prices Apple will have to pay.
For this reason, and the fact that Apple likely negotiated memory prices for its M5 devices before the shortage, I don’t think there will be any immediate price increases for Apple’s memory. However, if things don’t improve, it seems much more likely that prices will rise when the M6 devices begin production.
If you want a Mac with more memory, you might want to consider getting one now if you’re worried about the higher price. Amazon is currently selling the 16-inch M4 Max MacBook Pro with 48GB of storage for $3,597, a $400 discount. If you need more memory, you can check the Apple website.
However, for most people I don’t think there is an immediate risk. Tariff threats looked very bad for Apple last year, but the company managed to overcome them without raising prices for customers. Maybe I’m being a bit optimistic, but there are plenty of reasons not to worry right now.
My favorite recommendations for Apple accessories:
Follow Michael: X/Twitter , Bluesky , Instagram
FTC: We use automatic affiliate links that generate income. further.
