Arabic version: آبل تخطط لزيادة الأسعار بسبب ارتفاع تكاليف شرائح الذاكرة

According to BBC News,

Apple plans to raise the prices of its products as the cost of the memory chips it uses has surged, the technology giant’s boss has said. Tim Cook, Apple’s outgoing chief executive, told the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) that price increases were “unavoidable” as the situation around memory chips had become “unsustainable”. He did not say when prices would rise or which products would be affected, including the anticipated iPhone 18.

The demand for memory chips has escalated recently, particularly due to the boom in artificial intelligence. Cook mentioned that Apple has been making efforts to shield customers from these rising costs, but the supply situation has worsened, leading to higher prices being passed on to the company. He emphasized the need for memory pricing and supply to return to reasonable levels for consumer products.

The average selling price of smartphones globally is expected to rise by around 20% in 2026 to an all-time high. Analysts predict that Apple’s new phones are likely to cost up to $150 more than the iPhone 17s, as the firm is expected to upgrade their specifications to support new AI features. Other smartphone brands have already responded by raising prices or adjusting specifications to protect their profit margins.

The chipmaking industry is facing similar pressures across the board. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) would not rule out price increases as inflation pushed up its costs, while other companies like Samsung and Sony have already raised prices for their products in response to supply chain disruptions and increased production costs. As the landscape evolves, it appears that price increases in the tech sector may become the new norm.