All articles tagged with #ram shortage
Apple is reportedly pursuing a pricing strategy for the iPhone 18 Pro Max that avoids large increases amid a global RAM shortage and rising component costs, leveraging its supply chain, economies of scale, and enhanced on-device AI to offer stronger value and maintain premium appeal without alienating price-conscious buyers.
Analyst Jeff Pu expects Apple to pursue an aggressive pricing strategy for the iPhone 18 Pro lineup despite a RAM shortage, potentially keeping starting prices the same as or only slightly higher than the iPhone 17 Pro due to Apple's scale and efforts to cut costs elsewhere, with new features and production details shaping the autumn release.
Analyst Tim Culpan says RAM shortages could end the Neo's $599 base config, leaving only a $699 model with 512GB; Apple is doubling Neo production to 10 million to meet demand, but higher RAM and A18 Pro chip costs for the second batch could push prices up for consumers.
Apple is trimming RAM configurations on Mac mini and Mac Studio due to a global memory shortage driven by AI server demand: Mac mini no longer offers 32GB/64GB RAM (and the 256GB SSD option has been removed, raising the base price), while the Mac Studio's M3 Ultra is limited to 96GB RAM with higher-tier options dropped; 9–10 week delivery estimates persist for affected models and Tim Cook says supply-demand balance could take months.
Leaks suggest the Pixel 11 lineup could ship with less RAM due to the global RAM shortage: base models may start at 8GB (down from 12GB) with 12GB on the Pro variants (down from 16GB), and 16GB configurations still available but possibly priced higher; the RAM squeeze is also driving price hikes across other devices, though Google’s Pro models reportedly include camera upgrades and brighter displays.
Apple has removed the 256GB Mac mini option, leaving the base M4 configuration at $799 with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage; the 512GB model was already $799, and the 256GB option is no longer available. Apple cites ongoing supply constraints and higher RAM costs driven by a global memory shortage, noting it may take months to balance supply for Mac mini and Mac Studio.
During Apple's Q2 2026 earnings call, Tim Cook said the Mac mini and Mac Studio may take several months to reach supply-demand balance due to stronger-than-expected AI-related demand and a global memory chip shortage; some RAM configurations are out of stock or discontinued, and base Mac mini availability remains limited as shipping delays widen.
Sony announced new PS5 price increases in several East Asian markets (following earlier hikes in the US/UK/Europe/Japan) due to ongoing global economic pressures and RAM shortages; price changes affect disc drive, Digital Edition, and Pro models and take effect May 1, with accompanying PlayStation Portal price adjustments in some markets.
Apple’s online store shows the base Mac mini (M4, 256GB, 16GB RAM) as currently unavailable, while upgraded RAM configurations (including 24GB and M4 Pro) remain in stock and some 32GB+ RAM options are out of stock. The stockout is likely tied to global RAM shortages driven by AI demand, though Apple is reportedly developing M5/M5 Pro for 2026 and a refresh timing remains unclear.
Framework unveils the Laptop 13 Pro with Intel Core Ultra 3 and factory-installed Linux (Ubuntu Certified), pitching a MacBook Pro–like experience for Linux users while navigating RAM and storage shortages through direct supplier access and transparent pricing; Linux users outpace Windows on the 13, signaling a Linux-forward direction for Framework hardware.
Meta is hiking Quest headset prices due to a memory-chip shortage: starting April 19, the 128GB Quest 3S is $349.99, the 256GB Quest 3S is $449.99, and the Quest 3 is $599.99—up $50 on the 3S models and $100 on the base Quest 3. Refurbished units rise as well: 128GB refurb 3S $319.99, 256GB refurb 3S $409.99, and refurb Quest 3 $549.99 (+$170); accessories stay the same. Meta says memory costs are driving the change, and smart glasses aren’t seeing a price hike for now.
Circana data shows US PS5 sales spiked in the week ending April 4, surpassing any week in 2026 so far as Sony’s price increases coincided with ongoing hardware shortages, with the base console now at $649.99 and the PS5 Pro at $899.99.
Samsung is raising prices on higher-storage variants of the Galaxy Z Flip 7, Galaxy S25 FE, and Galaxy S25 Edge (up to $80 more), with earlier hikes on the Galaxy Z Fold 7; its tablet lineup also sees price increases (e.g., Tab S11, S11 Ultra, S10 FE, Tab A11 Plus) as memory shortages push RAM and NAND costs higher.
Microsoft has raised RAM-related prices across its Surface lineup due to a global RAM shortage, boosting the starting price of the Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7 to $1,499 (up $500), with other models climbing as well (12-inch Pro to $1,049, 13-inch Laptop to $1,199, 15-inch Laptop to $1,599) and top configurations reaching around $3,649, intensifying competition with Apple and signaling more expensive Surface launches may be on the way.
Microsoft has raised prices across its Surface PC lineup due to RAM and component cost pressures, pushing midrange devices above $1,000 and flagships into the $1,499–$1,599 range. The Surface Pro 12-inch now starts at $1,049 (up from $799), the Surface Pro 13-inch at $1,499 (up from $999), the Surface Laptop 13-inch at $1,199 (up from $899), the 13.8-inch Laptop at $1,499 (up from $999), and the 15-inch Laptop at $1,599 (up from $1,299), with a top-end 15-inch model configured with 64GB RAM and 1TB SSD hitting $3,649. The move, tied to RAM supply constraints, is expected to ripple across retailers and likely persist through upcoming Surface refreshes.