Apple raises iPhone prices in India and US as AI-driven memory chip costs surge
Apple raised prices on every iPhone model it sells in India and the US, with older models in India rising by ₹15,000 to ₹65,000 and new US flagships up $100, following a global memory chip shortage driven by AI data centres. The iPhone 18 Pro starts at ₹1,64,900 in India and $1,199 in the US, while the new foldable iPhone Duo costs $1,999 in the US and ₹2,99,900 in India. Apple previously blamed "unprecedented" chip price surges for June's MacBook and iPad hikes, with former CEO Tim Cook calling it a "100-year flood." Memory makers have shifted production to high-bandwidth chips for AI servers, driving DRAM prices up 400% and NAND storage over 300% year-on-year. Xbox raised console prices by $100, and industry analysts expect broader electronics price increases, though Apple's new Pro models also include upgraded hardware beyond memory costs.