Apple has today significantly raised prices on iPads, Macs, and more as RAM and chip costs soar due to AI demand.
In recent months, there has been much reporting on rising RAM and storage prices. We owe these skyrocketing prices to the AI companies that provide us with all these powerful tools, whether for creativity, supporting, or simply stealing content.
Now, users of Apple products are also getting the bitter pill. Apple is now following suit by raising prices on iPads, Macs, and other devices.
The New Prices For Apple iPads, Macs, etc. – The New Reality
Windows and Linux users have been living with the new reality of RAM and storage costs for some time now. For Mac and iOS users, it’s starting now.
In a Wall Street Journal article last week, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced that the company was preparing to raise prices across its product lineup and that the move was inevitable. He says that it’s due to the soaring cost of memory and storage chips.
We’re doing our best to mitigate the huge increases that are being passed to us, and we’ve been trying to shield our customers from the increases, but the situation has become unsustainable.”
Cook described the scale of the memory shortage as a “hundred-year flood,” adding, “I’ve never seen anything like it in any area in over 40 years.”
This step has now happened, and faster than many expected. A large portion of products have become significantly more expensive. Popular products related to music creation, in particular, have seen a very strong increase.
For example, the Apple iPad Pro M5 with the base configuration has risen from $999 to $1199, and in Europe from 1099€ to 1299€. The same on Macs. The MacBook Air is $200 more expensive, and the base Mac Studio M4 Max skyrocketed to $1999 ($500).
The more RAM and storage the device has, the higher the new prices for Apple products. Not good for musicians who need a lot.
Looking at the forecasts, RAM and storage prices will continue to rise in the coming months and next year, unless RAM modules suddenly start raining from the sky. This means the prices of all computers will increase.
My Plan Ruined
A new iPad Pro has been on my shopping list for a while now. I’ve been using my iPad Pro M1 daily since 2021, so for five years now. I’ve very rarely reached its performance limits, even with large AUM setups and numerous AUv3 plugins loaded.
With such intensive use, I start to wonder whether an upgrade is worthwhile after five years. I think I could easily use it for another year or two or even longer. However, since I had a mishap and a display issue has arisen, these thoughts have intensified.
Since replacing the display costs almost as much as buying a new device, I put it on my shopping list, but I waited for deals. Well, this news has changed my master plan.
As you know, the iPad is the central hub of my hybrid live setup, replacing many hardware FX pedals and more. Plus, I write and test a lot on iPadOS. So, I made the decision and bit the bullet.
I just ordered a new iPad Pro M5 from Amazon (Germany) at the old price (new Apple price: 1299€). With the new Apple prices on iPads and Macs, they won’t get any cheaper in the near future. And I’m almost certain an M6 will become even more expensive if the current trend with RAM and storage continues.
Wait or Buy
I can imagine that some people are now wondering: should I take advantage of the better prices now, or should I wait?
Let’s remind: Apple has released fantastic hardware in recent years with its M processors, which deliver massive power with high efficiency. iPads, in particular, haven’t yet fully realized the M processors’ potential.
If you are not a heavy orchestral library user or someone who likes to max out all the settings, you can use your M-powered device for a long time. Unless you drop your M in the pool in the summer heat. M3-M5 users, get out the popcorn, you can relax here.
Users of a first-generation M-series device might consider upgrading. It always depends on whether you need more performance or if the M1 or M2 is sufficient. I’m the owner of an M1 Max, and it still works like a charm.
If you have planned a new purchase for this year, you should consider taking advantage of the old prices now while retailers are still offering them online. It will become significantly more expensive later for probably the same device.
As I said before, there probably won’t be many great deals as they are based on the new Apple prices. The current prices are probably the best deals. Think twice about whether you really need a new device.
One thing is certain: the days of cheap hardware are over. Thanks, AI!
More information here: Apple
Available from my partner
Ram builders are booked until 2028…
So no price drop before 2029…
But since their production is only focused on GPU-Ram (Vram), their production of conventional RAM and SSD has literally dropped to ZERO!
So, mechanically, the price of classic RAM will increase drastically, as well as that of SSDs… at least until the end of 2028…
So this is just the beginning, unfortunately.
Hey, I’m in a similar boat. Have an M1 Max 64 GB, runs fine now with Logic Pro and Xcode but what about in 5y. I’m a bit afraid in 3y Apple says M1 (and Max) computers cannot run macOS 30 or so.
Have iPad Pro from 2020, could use a new iPad Air .. was also looking to put my iPhone 12 Pro Max aside and get a new 18 if specs are enticing. All these plans are now postponed indefinitely.
If you look at Apple devices Price Development over the last 10y you can easily extrapolate that sooner or later things will just get too expensive for the not-Rich of us. I don’t wanna go Android or Windows. Would rather go MPC, Ambient Guitar, or some other dawless setup. As it happens, a DAW is still for me the most precise tool, and I want this precision, with automation, MIDI editing, arrangement view, and other functions.
Your hardware could easily last 10 or 20 years, my friend!
But yes, the problem lies with the software: Apple’s strategy of planned software obsolescence is a real cancer for humanity and for e-waste management. It’s the same story with Android, which forces processor manufacturers to keep ARM architecture specifications secret—even though they are essential for porting any operating system (like Linux) to any device. This forces people with limited means to throw away perfectly functional devices; it’s simply outrageous, especially amidst the current RAM shortage and the looming SSD shortage… Meanwhile, people are getting rid of their “old” high-end smartphones or perfectly capable laptops simply because operating systems are becoming increasingly hungry for RAM and processing power. And all for what? Well, just to do the exact same things we did 20 years ago on our old computers and first-generation smartphones…
Things absolutely have to change, or else we’ll end up as mindless as sheep and sink into controlled total misery.
It makes me sick, honestly.
But in the meantime, you could always set up a dual-boot system on your Apple machine to run Linux alongside macOS; that way, you can browse the web securely with up-to-date software while keeping macOS for music and the non-internet software you’ve purchased. There aren’t many other options—short of ditching Mac and Windows forever, which is what I did (though I do still keep a Windows dual-boot for certain programs, unfortunately…).
“And all for what?” – these are all the hallmarks of planned obsolescence, software AND hardware. they force product cycles through style and format changes, OS compatibility, and feature churn. the rest of the industry does it as well. we’re way beyond just using crappy quality to push product, it’s not part of the high tech lifestyle. fight back, buy LESS.
also with Windows 11.
many good working Computers are Going to the dumpster or Sold to a.linux Guy hopefully.
9 years old for my Imac 5K full ram and SSD. It works, so it’s perfect for me.
Some synths and let’s go.
Akai made a clever decision putting more power into the MPC line! With very good tactile control and connectivity MPC Live 3 can be a good replacement now for an iPad.
looking forward to load all my favorite apps on the MPC Live 3 :p I prefer my iPad way more powerful than a MPC for me and my setup at least
When is enough enough?
Apple: Never!
Sure prices have gone up a lot but so has Apple’s profits for decades. They could easily take the hit for a while but instead they go for the maximum price bumps. Glad I bought all my Apple stuff for the next 5 years so I don’t have to take this crap from them.