With RAM prices exploding, do you think Apple will raise the prices of upcoming M5 Pro/Max MBPs?

[Capeto]

Just as the title states - RAM prices have ridiculously shot up over the past several months, and while Apple has been able to maintain current prices with their current inventory (that Apple tax on RAM not looking so bad now, huh), do you think Apple will "reassess" their prices given current price spikes and shortages?

Obviously the answer is "nobody here knows", but I'm in need of an upgrade sooner rather than later and I'd like to get a custom model with more RAM and storage for longevity. Should I pull the the trigger on an M4 Pro and get a guaranteed price, or risk it with an M5 Pro that could be exponentially costlier to match "current pricing trends"?

 

[ChrisChaval]

apple has been able to maintain prices thanks to some long term supply agreements. once terminated (or even earlier), prices will rise - and not just for MPBs, imho

 

[dmccloud]

There are two factors that work in Apple's favor here. First and foremost, Apple has long-term supply agreements, which insulate them from rapid fluctuations in component prices. Second, the DRAM shortage is primarily affecting desktop-class RAM rather than the lower profile and more power-efficient RAM - at least for now. If you compare the price of desktop and laptop DDR5, you will see that the laptop variants are noticeably less expensive on average. You can also see which companies (Silicon Power, Crucial/Micron, Kingston) are gouging the mobile market because their prices for laptop DDR5 are much higher than than other brands for the same capacities.

This situation is also why some people have been promoting the idea of using a SODIMM to DIMM adapter to use laptop RAM in desktop systems. While that may save some money upfront, it will likely incur a performance penalty due to adapting laptop RAM into a desktop system.

 

[SnowPenguin]

No, it may actually make Macs an attractive option to some people.

 

[conmee]

The market is finally catching up to Apple’s standard pricing… 😉

 

[TheRealAlex]

don't care M4 Pro gonna hold strong til 2027.

 

[JPack]

Yes, because this isn't a cyclical shortage. But rather, it's probably a permanent shift to silicon wafer allocations.

Whether it's DRAM for desktop or notebook is irrelevant. The same wafer is used.

 

[weckart]

Second, the DRAM shortage is primarily affecting desktop-class RAM rather than the lower profile and more power-efficient RAM - at least for now. If you compare the price of desktop and laptop DDR5, you will see that the laptop variants are noticeably less expensive on average. You can also see which companies (Silicon Power, Crucial/Micron, Kingston) are gouging the mobile market because their prices for laptop DDR5 are much higher than than other brands for the same capacities.

I hope this is right as I understood the problem to be more widespread than just desktop RAM. I have noticed the price of SSDs has crept up somewhat.