Beat Apple’s Price Hike: Grab iPads and Macs Before Costs Rise

Apple just raised prices on its entire product lineup. If you haven’t picked up a Mac or iPad yet, you need to act fast. With Amazon Prime Day coming up soon, it’s your best chance to snag hardware at the old prices before the hikes take effect.

What Apple Just Changed

On June 25, 2026, Apple announced price increases due to an ongoing global memory shortage. This supply chain issue has made the RAM chips inside devices more costly to produce. The price hikes impacted some of Apple’s most popular items:

• The MacBook Neo now starts at $699, up from $599 — that’s a 17% increase.
• The MacBook Air jumps to $1,299, up from $1,099 — that’s an additional $200.
• The 14-inch MacBook Pro, along with iPads, HomePod, and Vision Pro (Apple’s mixed-reality headset), also saw price changes.

Think of it like a grocery store hiking up the price of eggs because chicken feed costs more. Apple isn’t just pocketing extra cash; the cost of making these devices has genuinely risen, and they’re passing that cost onto consumers.

Why the Memory Shortage Is the Real Story

The real issue here isn’t Apple’s pricing strategy; it’s the global RAM shortage affecting nearly every tech manufacturer. RAM, or random-access memory, allows your computer to run multiple apps simultaneously. As it’s become harder and more expensive to produce, Apple isn’t alone in feeling the squeeze. However, since Apple products already come with a premium price tag, even small increases in chip costs lead to noticeable price jumps for consumers.

On the day of the announcement, Apple’s stock dropped nearly 5%. This suggests investors worry that higher prices might drive budget-conscious shoppers to competitors or cause people to delay upgrades.

The Prime Day Window

Here’s the silver lining: Amazon Prime Day usually brings a wave of discounts on Apple products from third-party sellers and Apple’s own Certified Refurbished store. Retailers who bought inventory at the old wholesale prices often sell it at or below the previous retail price. This means you might still find deals on the old MacBook Air for $1,099 or less, even though Apple’s new price is $1,299.

The strategy is simple: if you’ve been eyeing a Mac or iPad, Prime Day is your best chance to buy at pre-hike prices before old stock runs out.

Which Products Are Worth Targeting

• MacBook Air: The biggest price jump at $200. Any deal at or near $1,099 is a steal compared to Apple’s new price.
• MacBook Neo: With a $100 increase, any deal under $649 is worth grabbing.
• iPads: Prices vary by model, but the same logic applies — hunt for retailers clearing previous-generation stock.
• HomePod and Vision Pro: These had smaller audiences, but discounts on HomePod tend to pop up often during major sales.

Community Reactions

“I literally ordered my MacBook Air an hour before seeing this news. Feels like I dodged a bullet by accident.”

“Apple raising prices again while the stock drops — at some point people just switch to Windows. The Air at $1,299 is a tough sell.”

What This Means for You

If you’re an Apple user planning to upgrade a Mac or iPad in the next six months, you’ve got a narrow window right now. The new prices are already up on Apple’s website, but third-party inventory at the old prices will be available for a limited time. Once that stock is gone, the MacBook Air will officially cost $1,299.

If you’re not in the market yet, keep this in mind when planning. An extra $100 to $200 on a laptop purchase is a big deal. It might make sense to speed up a purchase you were already considering or wait to see if Apple adjusts prices as the memory shortage eases.

For more details on the price changes, check out coverage from MacRumors, The Verge, and 9to5Mac.

What To Watch

• Amazon Prime Day (mid-July 2026): Keep an eye out for Apple product discounts from authorized resellers selling through old inventory at the previous prices.
• Apple Certified Refurbished Store: Refurbished units are often priced based on original MSRP, which could lead to significant savings compared to new prices — check back frequently as stock changes.
• Memory market conditions: If the global RAM shortage improves in the next two to three quarters, Apple might reverse some of these increases. Analyst reports on NAND and DRAM pricing in Q3 2026 will be early indicators.
• AAPL stock recovery: The nearly 5% drop is worth watching. If investor concerns grow, Apple may respond with promotional pricing or trade-in offers to boost sales.