Apple has just delivered one of the steepest mid-cycle price revisions in its history — and Indian buyers are feeling it the hardest. On June 25-26, 2026, Apple raised prices across its MacBook, iPad, Mac desktop, HomePod, and Apple TV 4K lineups in India by amounts ranging from ₹5,000 to a full ₹1 lakh, depending on the model. Apple’s online India store briefly went offline mid-week — usually reserved for new product launches — only to reappear with sharply revised pricing across nearly its entire non-iPhone hardware range.
The cause is not arbitrary corporate greed, even though it certainly feels that way to anyone shopping right now. It is a genuine, industry-wide memory chip shortage — and outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook has been remarkably blunt about it. In this article, we break down exactly what got more expensive, by how much, why it happened, and — the question on everyone’s mind — whether the iPhone is next.
Why Did Apple Increase Prices? Tim Cook Calls It a “Hundred-Year Flood”
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal published on June 17, 2026, Tim Cook delivered one of the most candid statements of his tenure as CEO: “This is a hundred-year flood. I’ve never seen anything like it in any area in over 40 years.” Apple has also stated plainly: “We have never seen a component price increase this much, this quickly.”
The root cause is a global surge in demand for DRAM and NAND memory chips, driven almost entirely by the explosive growth of AI data centres worldwide. As cloud providers and AI companies buy up memory chip supply at an unprecedented pace to power data centres, the same chips that go into consumer laptops, tablets, and smart speakers have become dramatically scarcer and more expensive. Apple said it had absorbed most of the cost increase up to this point using existing inventory, but had signalled as early as April 2026 that this protection would expire by the end of June — which is exactly what happened.
The market reaction was immediate and severe: Apple’s announcement reportedly wiped out roughly $265 billion in market value as its shares fell over 6% — the company’s worst single-day trading performance in more than a year. Deutsche Bank analysts have gone as far as warning of a broader “memory inflation tax” that could hit consumers across the entire electronics industry, not just Apple buyers.
Apple India Price Hike: Full New Price List (June 2026)
Here is the complete breakdown of confirmed price changes across Apple’s India lineup:
MacBooks
| Model | Old Price | New Price | Increase |
| MacBook Air (512GB) | ₹1,19,900 | ₹1,37,900 | ₹18,000 |
| MacBook Neo (entry-level) | ₹69,900 | ₹79,900 | ₹10,000 |
| 14″ MacBook Pro (M5, 16GB) | ₹1,69,900 | ₹2,39,900 | ₹70,000 |
| 14″ MacBook Pro (M5 Max) | — | — | ₹1,00,000 (steepest hike) |
iPads
| Model | Old Price | New Price | Increase |
| 13″ iPad Air (base) | ₹84,900 | ₹1,19,900 | ₹35,000 (~41%) |
| 11″ iPad Air (M4) | ₹64,900 | ₹89,900 | ₹25,000 |
| iPad Pro (M5, 256GB) | ₹99,990 | ₹1,39,900 | ₹39,910 |
Mac Desktops
| Model | Old Price | New Price | Increase |
| Mac mini (M4, 256GB) | ₹59,900 | ₹94,900 | ₹35,000 |
HomePod & Apple TV 4K
| Model | Old Price | New Price | Increase |
| Apple TV 4K (64GB) | ₹14,900 | ₹25,900 | ₹11,000 (~73%) |
| Apple TV 4K (128GB) | ₹16,900 | ₹31,900 | ₹15,000 (~89% — steepest % hike) |
| HomePod | ₹32,900 | ₹44,900 | ₹12,000 |
| HomePod mini | ₹10,900 | ₹15,900 | ₹5,000 |
Note: Prices reflect Apple’s official India online store as of late June 2026. Authorised retailer pricing may vary slightly and is subject to further change.
Has the iPhone Price Increased Too? Here’s the Important Exception
Despite the scale of these increases, Apple has explicitly kept iPhone pricing untouched in this round. The iPhone 17 series continues to sell in India at its original launch price, even as nearly every other major Apple product category absorbed a significant hike.
This is widely seen as a deliberate, strategic decision rather than an oversight. The iPhone remains Apple’s single largest revenue driver and its most fiercely contested product in the Indian market, where Apple only recently crossed a record 9% market share, according to Counterpoint Research. Analysts believe Apple is protecting this momentum for as long as possible — but the protection is not expected to last indefinitely.
Is the iPhone Price Increase Coming Next?
Most analysts believe so. The real test will arrive with the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, expected in September 2026. Industry estimates from IDC India suggest the iPhone 18 Pro could rise by $50-80 (roughly ₹4,150-6,650), while the Pro Max could see a much steeper jump of $200-250 (roughly ₹16,600-20,750). Omdia estimates a global Apple price hike in the 5-10% range, which could translate into a 15-16% increase specifically in India once rupee depreciation and import duties are factored in.
Apple has also reportedly withdrawn its popular 12-24 month no-cost EMI schemes since the start of 2026 — a quieter but arguably more impactful change for price-sensitive Indian buyers than the sticker price itself, since easy financing (not the headline price) was the single biggest driver behind Apple’s recent India growth.
Why Has India Been Hit Harder Than Other Markets?
Indian buyers are absorbing a uniquely tough combination of factors. On top of the same global memory-chip shortage affecting every market, Indian pricing already carries substantial import duties and GST layered on top of Apple’s base international pricing. A MacBook Pro that costs roughly $1,999 in the United States can carry a street price exceeding ₹2,49,900 in India once local taxes are applied — and that’s before this latest memory-driven surcharge.
Currency depreciation adds a further layer of pressure specific to India, compounding the impact beyond what buyers in markets like the US or UK are experiencing for the same underlying component shortage.
What Should Indian Apple Buyers Do Now?
- Check authorised resellers for pre-hike stock — some retailers may still be clearing existing inventory at older prices
- Use Apple’s official trade-in programme to offset some of the increased cost when upgrading
- Look for bank-partnered EMI schemes through Apple India or major e-commerce platforms, since Apple’s own no-cost EMI option has been withdrawn
- Compare alternatives — Windows ultrabooks from Samsung and Dell now offer comparable performance at 20-30% lower price points, though buyers who specifically need macOS continuity and Apple Silicon’s performance-per-watt advantage may still find staying within the ecosystem worthwhile
- If you need an iPhone soon, consider buying before September 2026 — current iPhone 17 pricing remains protected for now, but this is expected to change with the iPhone 18 launch
Check Current Apple India Pricing Directly
For the most accurate, real-time pricing, always check Apple’s official India store rather than third-party listings, since prices can be revised again with little notice:
- MacBook Air & MacBook Pro: apple.com/in/shop/buy-mac
- iPad Air & iPad Pro: apple.com/in/shop/buy-ipad
- Mac mini & Mac desktops: apple.com/in/shop/buy-mac/mac-mini
- HomePod & HomePod mini: apple.com/in/shop/buy-homepod
- Apple TV 4K: apple.com/in/shop/buy-tv-home/apple-tv-4k
- Apple Trade In programme: apple.com/in/shop/trade-in
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Why did Apple increase prices in India in 2026?
Apple raised prices due to a severe global shortage of DRAM and NAND memory chips, driven by surging demand from AI data centres worldwide. Apple CEO Tim Cook described it as a “hundred-year flood” in component pricing that the company could no longer fully absorb.
Q2. Which Apple products got more expensive in India?
MacBooks (Air, Pro, and the entry-level MacBook Neo), iPads (iPad Air and iPad Pro), Mac mini desktops, HomePod, HomePod mini, and Apple TV 4K have all seen price increases, ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹1 lakh depending on the model.
Q3. Did iPhone prices increase in India too?
No, not in this round. The iPhone 17 series continues to sell at its original launch price in India. However, analysts widely expect the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, launching around September 2026, to carry a meaningful price increase.
Q4. What is the biggest price increase announced by Apple?
The 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 Max chip saw the steepest absolute increase, rising by ₹1 lakh. In percentage terms, the Apple TV 4K (128GB) saw the sharpest jump, increasing by nearly 89%.
Q5. How much did the MacBook Pro price increase by?
The 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5, 16GB RAM) rose from ₹1,69,900 to ₹2,39,900, an increase of ₹70,000. The MacBook Pro with the M5 Max chip saw an even steeper ₹1 lakh increase.
Q6. How much did the iPad Air price increase by?
The base 13-inch iPad Air jumped from ₹84,900 to ₹1,19,900, a 41-42% increase — one of the sharpest percentage hikes across Apple’s entire India lineup. The 11-inch iPad Air (M4) rose from ₹64,900 to ₹89,900.
Q7. How much more does the Apple TV 4K cost now?
The 64GB Apple TV 4K rose from ₹14,900 to ₹25,900, while the 128GB variant jumped from ₹16,900 to ₹31,900 — an increase of nearly 89%, the steepest percentage hike across Apple’s entire product range.
Q8. How much did HomePod prices increase by?
The HomePod increased from ₹32,900 to ₹44,900, while the HomePod mini rose from ₹10,900 to ₹15,900.
Q9. Why is the memory chip shortage happening right now?
The shortage is being driven by an unprecedented surge in demand for DRAM and NAND memory chips from AI data centres globally, as cloud providers and AI companies rapidly expand infrastructure, diverting memory chip supply away from consumer electronics manufacturing.
Q10. Why has India been affected more than other countries?
Indian Apple pricing already includes substantial import duties and GST layered on top of Apple’s global base price. Combined with currency depreciation, this compounds the impact of the memory-chip-driven price increase more severely than in markets like the US or UK.
Q11. Has Apple removed no-cost EMI options in India?
Yes. Apple has withdrawn its 12-24 month no-cost EMI financing schemes in India since the start of 2026. Analysts consider this an even bigger blow to affordability than the sticker price increases themselves, since easy financing was a major driver of Apple’s recent India sales growth.
Q12. Will iPhone 18 prices be higher because of this shortage?
Most analysts expect so. IDC India estimates the iPhone 18 Pro could rise by ₹4,150-6,650, and the Pro Max could increase by ₹16,600-20,750, when it launches in September 2026.
Q13. Did Apple’s stock price get affected by this announcement?
Yes. Apple’s announcement reportedly wiped out approximately $265 billion in market value as its shares fell over 6% — its worst single-day trading performance in more than a year.
Q14. Are other electronics brands also raising prices due to the memory shortage?
Yes, this is an industry-wide issue. Deutsche Bank analysts have warned of a broader “memory inflation tax” that could affect laptops, smartphones, and other electronics across multiple brands, not just Apple, as the global memory chip shortage persists.
Q15. Should I buy a MacBook or iPad right now, or wait?
If you need a device urgently, checking authorised retailers for remaining pre-hike stock and using Apple’s Trade-In programme can help offset costs. Given that the shortage is described as industry-wide and ongoing, waiting does not guarantee lower prices and may risk further increases instead.
Q16. Are there cheaper alternatives to Apple laptops right now?
Yes. Windows ultrabooks like Samsung’s Galaxy Book series and Dell’s XPS line offer comparable performance at roughly 20-30% lower price points than equivalent MacBooks, making them worth considering for buyers not specifically tied to the Apple ecosystem.
Q17. How long is the memory chip shortage expected to last?
No official end date has been given. Apple itself indicated in April 2026 that existing inventory protections were expected to expire by the end of June 2026, which is when these price increases took effect — suggesting the underlying shortage may persist for some time without a clear resolution date.
Q18. Did Apple give an official reason on its India website for the hike?
Apple’s revised pricing went live on its official India online store without a separate, detailed public announcement specific to India, though the company’s global statements citing memory and storage component costs apply directly to the Indian price revisions as well.
Final Thoughts
This round of Apple price hikes in India is not a routine annual adjustment — it is a direct consequence of a genuine, industry-wide memory chip crunch that Tim Cook himself has called unlike anything he has seen in over 40 years. With increases of up to ₹1 lakh on flagship MacBooks and nearly 89% on the Apple TV 4K, this is one of the most significant pricing shifts in Apple’s recent India history.
The iPhone has been spared for now, but most signs point toward this being temporary rather than permanent — all eyes are now on the iPhone 18 Pro launch in September 2026 to see whether Apple’s most important product line in India finally feels the same pressure.
Were you planning to buy a MacBook, iPad, or Apple TV this year? Let us know in the comments how this price hike affects your decision.
*Prices mentioned reflect Apple’s official India online store as reported as of late June 2026. Prices are subject to change; always verify current pricing directly on Apple’s official India website before purchase.
