Buying a new MacBook or iPad in India just became a lot more expensive—and surprisingly, artificial intelligence is one of the biggest reasons why.
Apple has raised prices across its Mac, iPad, Apple TV, and HomePod lineup in India, with hikes ranging from 15% to 42%. Some premium Mac models now cost nearly ₹1 lakh more than before. Interestingly, iPhones have escaped the price hike, at least for now.
So, what’s going on?
The answer lies far beyond Apple Stores. Around the world, tech giants are racing to build massive AI data centres capable of training and running increasingly powerful AI models. These facilities require enormous quantities of DRAM (RAM) and NAND flash memory—the same components found in laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
As AI companies buy memory chips in bulk, manufacturers are prioritizing these high-value orders. The result? A global memory shortage that has driven component prices sharply higher.
Apple says it can no longer absorb these rising costs and has begun passing them on to consumers. That’s why products like the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iPad, Apple TV, and HomePod have all become significantly more expensive in India.
The development highlights an unexpected consequence of the AI boom. While consumers are enjoying smarter AI tools, they’re also beginning to feel the hidden costs. If memory prices continue to climb, Apple may not be the last company to raise prices, and more consumer electronics could soon become costlier worldwide.
Nandita Sharma
