The new MacBook Pro laptops are up to $400 more expensive than their predecessors, thanks to the RAM shortage

Source: TechCrunch

In Brief

Apple unveiled its latest slate of MacBook Air and MacBook Pro laptops on Tuesday morning, and in the case of the MacBook Pro, the new hardware comes with the announcement of new M5 Pro and M5 Max chips.

The specs on the new chips are impressive, featuring an 18‑core CPU that Apple says is over 4× the peak GPU compute for AI compared to the previous generation.

Pricing

• Base MacBook Pro with M5 Pro chip

  • 14‑inch: $2,199
  • 16‑inch: $2,699

• MacBook Pro with M5 Max chip

  • 14‑inch: $3,599
  • 16‑inch: $3,899

For comparison, the 14‑inch MacBook Pro with an M4 Pro chip started at $1,999 when it was released.

RAM shortage impact

The surge in demand for computers and data centers to power AI has led to a shortage of RAM, causing memory prices to rise sharply.

Analysts predict that smartphone shipments will plummet this year because of the shortage, and other hardware—such as laptops—will be affected as well. Apple’s pricing could serve as a bellwether for the sector’s broader impact.

Image Credit: Apple