# Rising memory prices put pressure on Apple's costs

> Apple expects to pay more for memory in the December quarter. The company has used cheaper inventory and other cost cuts to limit the impact so far.

Oossa · 2026-11-03 · https://oossa.com/en/rising-memory-prices-put-pressure-on-apple-s-costs

Apple expects higher memory costs in the December quarter, as RAM prices continue to rise ahead of the holiday shopping season. CEO John Ternus called the increases “unprecedented,” according to Tom’s Hardware, citing Reuters.

The company has so far softened the increase by using memory it bought at lower prices, cutting costs elsewhere and raising prices on some products. Those steps have helped absorb the pressure, but they do not remove the underlying increase in what Apple must pay for memory as cheaper inventory is used up.

Tom’s Hardware also reports that Apple’s manufacturing bill has climbed by $33 billion in just a few months. The report connects the cost pressure to rising component expenses and says Apple’s margins could face pressure through the holiday quarter and into 2027. It does not specify how much of the $33 billion rise comes from memory, or give a forecast for the company’s total memory spending.

## What does this mean for Apple?

The December quarter is a key shopping period for Apple, so higher component costs are arriving as the company heads into its busiest sales season. The company has already raised prices on some products, but the report does not identify which ones or say whether those increases were made specifically to offset memory costs.

Using lower-priced memory bought earlier provides a buffer, not a permanent solution: once that stock is used, new purchases at higher prices may weigh more directly on costs. Apple can also continue to cut expenses elsewhere, but the available details do not show how much either approach can offset.

## What remains unclear

There is no product-by-product breakdown of Apple’s memory needs, no estimate of the increase in memory prices it faces, and no indication of whether consumers should expect further price changes. The reported pressure on margins is a warning about costs, not confirmation that Apple will raise prices again or change its products.

## The facts

- Apple expects to pay more for memory in the December quarter.
- CEO John Ternus described the memory price increases as “unprecedented.”
- Apple has used lower-priced memory inventory, cut costs elsewhere and raised prices on some products to soften the impact.
- Tom’s Hardware reports that Apple’s manufacturing bill rose by $33 billion in a few months.

## Why it matters

For people considering an Apple purchase, some products have already become more expensive, but the report does not say whether memory costs caused those increases or whether more are coming. Apple’s costs may remain under pressure into 2027; how that will affect product prices is unknown.

## Sources & references

1. [Apple faces unprecedented memory cost increases as RAM prices continue to surge, manufacturing bill climbs by $33 billion](https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/dram/apple-faces-unprecedented-memory-cost-increases-as-ram-prices-continue-to-surge-manufacturing-bill-climbs-by-usd33-billion-rising-component-expenses-threaten-margins-through-the-holiday-quarter-and-into-2027) – Tom's Hardware, 2026-11-03

Last updated: 2026-11-03