Apple Raises MacBook Prices by Up to $300 After Memory Chip Cost Increase

Apple raised prices on many of its MacBooks this week by about 20 percent to cover rising memory chip costs. The increases range from $100 on lower-cost models to $300 on higher-end configurations. The MacBook Neo, Apple's entry-level laptop, now lists for $699, or $599 for students.

The $100 increase on the Neo leaves it at a lower starting price than most competing laptops with similar specifications. The device includes a 13-inch display, side-firing speakers, and up to 16 hours of battery life. It uses surplus iPhone chips and an aluminum chassis that matches design elements found on more expensive MacBook models.

Other laptop makers including Dell, Lenovo, HP, and Microsoft have raised prices by similar percentages in recent months. An economist at UBS said Apple's action might prompt additional retailers to increase prices. When the Neo was released in March, YouTube tech reviewer Marques Brownlee described it as potentially Apple's most disruptive product in more than ten years.

The company said the price adjustments apply across multiple MacBook lines and reflect higher component costs affecting the broader industry.