Apple's Price Hikes Aren't Just an AI Problem

Last week, in an exclusive interview with the Wall Street Journal, outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook warned that the memory chip crunch made price increases "unavoidable." He also made what seemed like a promise: "We're willing to use our balance sheet to help be a part of the solution."

So much for that. On Thursday, Apple rammed through hefty price increases for many of its popular devices. Macs, iPads, the Vision Pro, HomePods and Apple TV products all saw price hikes ranging from 15% to over 30%. Even budget-friendly models, like the MacBook Neo and refurbished devices, weren't exempt, though iPhones and AirPods were spared for now.

Surging memory costs and tight supplies have shattered any belief that one of the most successful tech giants would shield its customers from the wrath of RAMageddon. It's a pattern that's becoming increasingly common across the consumer electronics...

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