{"slug": "why-your-next-xbox-ipad-or-laptop-may-suddenly-cost-hundreds-more", "title": "Why your next Xbox, iPad, or laptop may suddenly cost hundreds more", "summary": "Apple and Microsoft announced significant price hikes on popular consumer electronics, including iPads, MacBooks, and Xbox consoles, blaming an AI-fueled shortage of memory and storage components. The increases, ranging from $100 to $1,300 per device, reflect soaring costs driven by the AI data center buildout, with other gadget makers like Sony and Nintendo also raising prices.", "body_md": "There’s no doubt about it: the general public is turning against [AI](https://www.fastcompany.com/section/artificial-intelligence). They are worried it will steal their jobs, destroy the environment, and even kill innocents. And given that two of the biggest companies on the planet have now squarely placed the blame on AI-fueled shortages for forcing them to raise prices on popular tech gadgets and devices, consumers are likely to double down on their loathing for the technology.\n\nYesterday, two of the world’s largest companies, Apple and Microsoft, announced pricing bombshells: they would significantly raise prices on their most popular consumer electronics. And neither held back on *what* was to blame for the price rises: artificial intelligence.\n\nFirst up was Apple, which announced significant price hikes across its Mac, iPad, and Home lineup. As Fast Company previously [reported](https://www.fastcompany.com/91565256/the-surprising-apple-product-that-was-spared-from-todays-price-hikes-iphone-ipad-macbook), Apple announced it was raising prices on devices in these lineups by an average of $246.67 ([per](https://www.macrumors.com/2026/06/25/apple-just-increased-prices/) MacRumors).\n\nThe starting price of the popular iPad Pro, for example, jumped $200, from $999 to $1,999. The MacBook Pro saw its starting price surge by $300 (from $1,699 to $1,999), and the Mac Studio with the M3 Ultra chip saw an astounding $1,300 price increase to $5,299 (from $3,999). Even Apple’s Lowe-cost devices were not spared. The Apple TV jumped nerly 55% to $199 (up $70 from $129).\n\n“We have never seen a component price increase this much, this quickly,” Apple [told](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/apple-raises-prices-macbooks-ipads-memory-costs-skyrocket-2026-06-25/) Reuters, referring to the memory and storage shortage caused by the AI data center buildout boom. “We have shielded our customers from these increases so far, but we have now reached a point where we need to begin raising prices on a number of products, including today’s increases for iPad and Mac.”\n\nMicrosoft was up next, [announcing](https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/06/25/xbox-console-price-update/) that it too would be raising prices on one of its most popular consumer products. Yesterday, the company announced that, effective August 1, it would no longer sell the 2TB version of its XBOX consoles, and that the 512 GB would increase in price by $100, and the 1TB model would rise by $150. This is after Microsoft raised all Xbox prices by between $20-$70 last year.\n\n“We hoped another price increase would not be necessary, and we have spent the last several months working with suppliers on options,” the company said. “Unfortunately, console storage and memory prices have increased by more than 2.5x and we expect another doubling by the fall of 2027.”\n\nAnd Apple and Microsoft aren’t alone. Other gadget makers have also hiked prices recently, though they have not specifically blamed the AI-fueled component shortage as the reason.\n\nIn March, Sony [announced](https://blog.playstation.com/2026/03/27/new-price-changes-for-ps5-ps5-pro-and-playstation-portal-remote-player/) its PlayStation 5 consoles would increase in price by up to $150. Sony blamed “continued pressures in the global economic landscape” for the price rises. And in May, Nintendo [revealed](https://www.nintendo.co.jp/corporate/release/en/2026/260508.html) its Nintendo Switch 2 price would increase by $50, blaming “various changes in market conditions.”\n\nOf course, the fact that these big-name gadgets are now rising in price won’t be much of a surprise to anyone who has shopped for external storage or memory in recent months.\n\nCurrently, Amazon [lists](https://a.co/d/01MM724r) the price of a SANDISK 1TB Extreme Portable SSD as $189. But if you look at Amazon’s price history tool, you’ll see the company’s data reveals that one year ago, the same device was sitting just above $77.\n\nMuch of that more-than-doubling price has occurred just this year as AI data center buildouts continue at breakneck speed, causing storage and memory component prices to surge amid ongoing shortages.\n\nAnyone shopping for a smartphone, computer, gaming console, or hard drive right now is likely wondering the same thing: Is it worth waiting to see if prices drop again?\n\nBut no one can answer that question with any certainty. What seems likely, however, is that memory and storage prices will continue to rise into 2027, which means devices that rely on memory or storage are likely to see their prices rise, too.\n\nIndeed, Apple itself phrased its price rises as something that is just beginning. “We have now reached a point where we need to *begin* raising prices on a number of products…” the company said (emphasis added). I’d be shocked if Apple doesn’t raise prices on iPhones and Apple Watches in the months ahead.\n\nLikewise, Microsoft says it expects “another doubling” of storage and memory prices by the fall of 2027. It seems unlikely Microsoft will just eat those increased costs.\n\nThe takeaway: AI-fueled price rises are here, affecting even consumers who don’t use the technology. That’s something unlikely to change any time soon.", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/why-your-next-xbox-ipad-or-laptop-may-suddenly-cost-hundreds-more", "canonical_source": "https://www.fastcompany.com/91565769/why-your-next-xbox-ipad-or-laptop-may-suddenly-cost-hundreds-more", "published_at": "2026-06-26 16:45:00+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-06-26 17:11:42.673902+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["artificial-intelligence", "ai-infrastructure", "ai-chips"], "entities": ["Apple", "Microsoft", "Xbox", "iPad", "MacBook Pro", "Mac Studio", "Sony", "Nintendo"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/why-your-next-xbox-ipad-or-laptop-may-suddenly-cost-hundreds-more", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/why-your-next-xbox-ipad-or-laptop-may-suddenly-cost-hundreds-more.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/why-your-next-xbox-ipad-or-laptop-may-suddenly-cost-hundreds-more.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/why-your-next-xbox-ipad-or-laptop-may-suddenly-cost-hundreds-more.jsonld"}}