Apple has reportedly agreed to pay elevated prices for memory components from Samsung beginning in the first quarter of 2027. Sources indicate that DRAM chips will cost Apple nearly $2 per gigabyte, while NAND storage chips will run about $0.33 per gigabyte—marking a 30% to 40% jump compared to current costs in Q3 2026.
What’s Driving the Increase?
The rising demand for memory and storage is tied to a growing push by AI-focused companies expanding their data center infrastructure, creating a shortage that’s pushing up component prices. Apple has already raised the pricing on several of its devices earlier this year, a move attributed to these chip shortages and the related inflationary pressures on production.
Recent Price Actions & Device Impacts
Since June, Apple has bumped up prices for Macs, iPads, the Apple TV, HomePod and its mini version, as well as the Vision Pro. The increases ranged broadly—many devices saw price hikes between $100 and $300. In particular, the entry price of the iPhone 18 Pro has risen by $100 in the U.S. over the iPhone 17 Pro, and older iPhones have also been re-priced upward.
What This Might Mean for 2027
It’s not yet confirmed whether these higher component costs will translate into additional price hikes across Apple’s 2027 lineup, or if current pricing already incorporates projected increases. Apple may be absorbing some of the cost rises itself, or shifting them partially onto consumers in next year’s releases.
This development underscores just how sensitive high-end electronics markets are to supply-side disruptions. Memory chips like DRAM and NAND are fundamental to everything from smartphones to AI systems, and when supply tightens, pricing pressure builds quickly. For Apple, managing this balancing act—between maintaining margin and staying competitive—will be pivotal.
What it means: As Apple braces for higher input costs in 2027, consumers should expect either steeper prices or tighter configurations—lower base storage or RAM—if the company opts to shield higher-end models from price shock. For the industry at large, this trend points to continued cost challenges unless supply improves or technology leaps reduce reliance on costly materials.
