Apple Plans Price Hikes Due to Rising Memory Chip Costs

Washington DC. Apple plans to increase the prices of its products as the cost of memory chips it uses has risen sharply, the company's chief said.

Apple's outgoing chief executive Tim Cook said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that the price increase is 'inevitable' as the situation regarding memory chips has become unstable and uncertain.

He did not clarify when the price would increase or which product would be affected. It is not yet clear whether the price will increase for the iPhone 18, which is expected to be released in September.

Memory chips are an essential part of smart devices like mobile phones, but the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) has increased their prices in recent months.

Cook says, 'We are trying to protect customers from cost increases, but the situation has become unbearable.'

'On one hand, demand is increasing, on the other hand, supply is limited, and chip manufacturers are making significant price increases,' he said.

Cook added that John Turnus will become Apple's CEO in September, replacing him after a 15-year tenure.

'The price and supply of memory for consumer products need to return to normal levels. This is the main thing,' he said.

These comments come as other tech companies are also warning about the crisis in the chip industry.

In an interview with the BBC this month, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) said that prices are likely to increase if costs rise.

(TSMC) produces the most advanced chips for companies like Apple, Nvidia, and AMD.

Earlier this year, Samsung expected prices of electronic devices to rise due to a shortage of memory chips.

The price of 'RAM', generally considered the cheapest computer component, has more than doubled since October 2025.

Along with the increasing demand for AI, the Iran war has also affected the global supply of helium, a crucial gas used in semiconductor production, further increasing chip costs.

Apple's products have become very popular since the iPhone 17 was released last September. Apple's sales increased by 17 percent in the first three months of 2026 compared to the same period last year. Apple's growing demand in China also plays a role in this.

Earlier this year, the company increased the price of its Mac Mini compact computer by about 200 US dollars (150 pounds). From BBC