Apple Plans Major Mac Refresh Amidst Soaring Memory Prices
Apple is preparing to launch at least seven new Mac models in 2026, covering both consumer and professional lines. This hardware surge coincides with a severe memory shortage, as DRAM prices have reportedly spiked 75% in one month. The company is already warning of compressed margins as the supply chain turbulence, driven by the AI boom, impacts component costs.
- The memory market is experiencing a structural shift as suppliers like Samsung and Micron prioritize high-bandwidth memory (HBM) for AI data centers, which is expected to consume 23% of DRAM wafer output in 2026, tightening the supply for consumer electronics. - Industry analysts have dramatically revised their forecasts, now projecting that contract prices for conventional DRAM will increase by 90-95% quarter-over-quarter in Q1 2026, with PC DRAM prices expected to more than double. -
