The new MacBook Pro laptops are as much as $400 more expensive than their predecessors. Thank the RAM shortage.
Source: TechCrunch
Image Credits: Apple
New MacBook Air and MacBook Pro Launch
Apple unveiled its latest slate of MacBook Air and MacBook Pro laptops on Tuesday morning, alongside the announcement of new M5 Pro and M5 Max chips (details here).
The new chips feature an 18‑core CPU that Apple claims delivers over 4× the peak GPU compute for AI compared to the previous generation (Apple newsroom).
Pricing and Specifications
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Base MacBook Pro (M5 Pro)
- 14‑inch: $2,199 (up from $1,999 for the M4 Pro)
- 16‑inch: $2,699 (up from $2,499 for the M4 Pro)
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MacBook Pro with M5 Max
- 14‑inch: $3,599
- 16‑inch: $3,899
- These prices are about $400 higher than the previous models.
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MacBook Air
- 13‑inch: $1,099 (up from $999)
- 15‑inch: $1,299 (up $100 from last year’s base model)
RAM Shortage Impact
The surge in demand for computers and data‑center hardware to power AI has led to a shortage of RAM (TechCrunch article), driving memory prices higher (Counterpoint Research).
Analysts predict that this shortage will cause smartphone shipments to decline this year, and the increased pricing of laptops like the new MacBook Pro may serve as a bellwether for broader sector impacts.