Apple Raises Prices on iPads, MacBooks, more

As foretold last week by Tim Cook, Apple on Thursday instituted price increases for several products, including iPads and MacBooks. Notably, the iPhone is unchanged.

Chance Miller at 9to5 Mac has the story. He points to a statement Apple gave Reuters, wherein the company said in part it has “shielded” customers from price hikes, but have reached a point of untenability where changes are necessary. “We know this is not welcome news, and we are working tirelessly to find solutions,” Apple said.

Per Miller, these are the products affected by Apple’s price increases:

• MacBook Neo: $699 (up from $599)

• 13-inch MacBook Air: $1,299 (up from $1,099)

• 15-inch MacBook Air: $1,499 (up from $1,299)

• M5 MacBook Pro: $1,999 (up from $1,699)

• M5 Pro MacBook Pro: $2,499 (up from $2,199)

• M5 Max MacBook Pro: $4,099 (up from $3,599)

• iMac: $1,499 (up from $1,299)

• M4 Max Mac Studio: $2,499 (up from $1,999)

• M3 Ultra Mac Studio: $5,299 (up from $3,999)

• iPad: $449 (up from $349)

• 11-inch iPad Air: $749 (up from $599)

• 13-inch iPad Air: $949 (up from $749)

• 11-inch iPad Pro: $1,199 (up from $999)

• 13-inch iPad Pro: $1,499 (up from $1,299)

• iPad mini: $599 (up from $499)

• Apple TV 4K: $199 (up from $129)

• HomePod: $349 (up from $299)

• HomePod mini: $129 (up from $99)

• Vision Pro: $3,699 (up from $3,499)

Besides iPhones, AirPods and Apple Watch pricing is unchanged—for now.

To reiterate a point I made earlier this month, price hikes will have a disproportionate effect on people with disabilities by virtue of the majority in the disability community have less money and commensurately less margin to absorb higher prices. Some things, like the Mac Studio, are so niche in their target demographic that its $1,300 (!) increase barely registers; something like the base iPad or, notably, the brand-new MacBook Neo, even their $100 jumps can be substantial, relatively speaking. As I said previously, it’s not implausible that a disabled person needs and/or wants an iPad or MacBook because the accessibility features on iPadOS and macOS help them be more productive because their computer is more accessible to them. Ergo, if said person lives and dies on a shoestring budget, then the MacBook Neo’s new $699 starting price perhaps could postpone a needed upgrade if their current machine is older.

If you need accessibility, today’s news is the shittiest. Apple acknowledges that.

The good news is today’s price increases have yet to hit Amazon.