Apple raises MacBook and iPad prices by up to 400 euros on AI chip costs

Apple has raised prices on MacBooks, iPads, HomePod speakers, and Apple TV by up to 400 euros, citing soaring memory chip costs driven by AI data center expansion. iPhone prices remain unchanged for now. The cheapest MacBook Neo now starts at 799 euros, up from 599, while the MacBook Pro entry price rose from 1,799 to 2,199 euros. The base iPad increased from 379 to 499 euros, and the HomePod mini costs 139 euros, a 30-euro hike. CEO Tim Cook called the increases "unavoidable." Apple previously held prices stable through long-term supply contracts but described component cost surges as "unprecedented." The company's stock fell about five percent following the global price hike. Analyst Francisco Jeronimo noted the MacBook Neo, projected as the world's best-selling laptop this quarter, saw a price increase, indicating Apple prioritizes profitability over growth.