Apple Price Hikes Point to Wider Cost Increases - Content + Technology
Apple has revealed that its prices will rise this year as a result of surging component costs across the computer hardware sector. An RMIT expert explains what is driving the increases and why consumers can. . .
Apple has revealed that its prices will rise this year as a result of surging component costs across the computer hardware sector. An RMIT expert explains what is driving the increases and why consumers can expect to feel the impact across all technology brands. Professor George Buchanan, Deputy Dean of Research, School of Computing Technologies:“Cynics will claim that Apple is price-gouging, but its massive supply chains have actually made prices more stable than those of its competitors. “Since the end of 2025, almost every component of laptops or mobile phones has risen sharply, particularly memory, processors, graphics cards and hard drives, due to AI businesses such as OpenAI, Google and Anthropic desperately buying increasingly large volumes of computing hardware. “While production has risen, component manufacturers can only increase capacity over years, not months. The world’s computer memory production for the whole year sold out before March, graphics cards in February, and hard drive storage before April. “The cost of Apple products may only become more expensive, with lagging supply from this year compounded by rising demand in 2027. “And for mainstream PC manufacturers and affordable phone producers, the shocks are going to be even greater. Your Christmas technology gift, phone, laptop or iPad is going to be a lot more expensive, whatever the brand. ”Professor George Buchanan is a world-leading researcher on large-scale information systems and has contributed to a book on the usability of government systems. He has worked for the United Nations and UK Government on strategic IT projects. Visithttps://www. rmit. edu. au