Apple and Micron Price Surge Linked to Memory Shortage
On June 25, 2026, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) raised starting prices on several products, including the iPad, which increased from $349 to $449, and the entry MacBook, which rose by $100. Apple attributed these price hikes to unprecedented increases in memory costs driven by surging demand from artificial intelligence (AI) data centers.
In the same quarter, Micron Technology (NASDAQ: MU) reported record net income of $28.24 billion, sharply up from $1.89 billion year-over-year. The company’s revenue soared to $41.46 billion, propelled primarily by data center demand. Micron’s adjusted gross margin reached a record 84.9%, more than double the year-ago figure, indicating significant profit from the memory chip scarcity affecting Apple’s pricing.
As contract prices for DRAM are expected to climb by approximately 90% in early 2026, and NAND flash memory by 70%-75%, both companies are positioned amid a volatile supply-demand landscape. Micron’s market value currently stands at around $1.3 trillion, as it benefits from driving prices higher while Apple faces cost pressures that affect consumers directly.
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