Apple Raises AppleCare+ Prices Amid Memory Shortage
Apple has raised the monthly cost of AppleCare+ subscriptions by 50 cents for Macs and iPads, according to Bloomberg. Annual plans have increased by five dollars. These changes apply only to new sign-ups, leaving existing subscribers untouched.
Summary:
- Monthly plans: $7.50 → $8.00 for Macs and iPads
- Annual plans: $75 → $80
The price hike is a continuation of Apple’s response to the global memory chip shortage, which has already affected hardware prices. Tim Cook had previously warned that price increases were "unavoidable."
Last month, Apple raised prices on various products, including iPads, Macs, Vision Pro headsets, HomePod speakers, and Apple TV set-top boxes. The Mac Mini was even discontinued due to unsustainable DRAM costs.
AppleCare+ covers customer support, accidental damage repairs, and battery replacements for Apple devices. The recent price increase does not affect AppleCare One pricing.
The memory shortage is impacting the entire technology industry, with AI data center construction consuming a large share of global memory production. As a result, DRAM prices have quadrupled in the past three quarters, according to Counterpoint Research.