Apple Spikes MacBook and iPad Prices in India by Up to Rs. 1 Lakh

Artificial intelligence is now taking a direct toll on consumer wallets. Driven by skyrocketing production costs and a severe global shortage of memory chips and storage components, tech giant Apple has quietly raised prices for its MacBook and iPad lineups. These steep price hikes affect both global markets and retail channels in India. The changes are already live on Apple India’s official website. For buyers, the financial impact is sudden and severe, with prices for certain high-end pro models jumping by as much as Rs. 1 lakh.

Massive Price Adjustments Hit the MacBook Air Lineup
The highly popular MacBook Air family is facing a substantial price correction. The entry-level 13-inch MacBook Air, powered by Apple’s M5 chip, originally debuted in India at a starting price of Rs. 1,19,900. Following a flat Rs. 30,000 increase, it now starts at Rs. 1,49,900. Similarly, the larger 15-inch MacBook Air variant saw its price tag go up by Rs. 35,000, bringing its new retail price to Rs. 1,79,900. Even budget-conscious buyers and students aren’t spared. The entry-level ‘MacBook Neo’, designed as an affordable gateway into the Apple ecosystem, jumped by Rs. 10,000, moving from its previous price of Rs. 69,900 to a new baseline of Rs. 79,900. Globally, the baseline price for the MacBook Neo moved from $599 to $699.

Unprecedented Surges for Pro Models and iPads
The price hikes across the premium ‘MacBook Pro’ series are the steepest ever recorded in the country within such a short timeframe. The base 14-inch MacBook Pro, configured with the M5 chip and 16GB of RAM, received a staggering Rs. 70,000 price increase, pushing its cost to Rs. 2,39,900. Meanwhile, the top-tier 14-inch MacBook Pro featuring the high-performance M5 Max variant saw a flat Rs. 1,000,000 (1 lakh) increase, striking an aggressive blow to power users. Apple also heavily adjusted its tablet prices alongside the laptop refresh. The 11-inch iPad Air, which features the M4 processor, climbed from its original price of Rs. 64,900 up to Rs. 89,900 after a Rs. 25,000 hike. The top-of-the-line M5 iPad Pro, which launched last year at Rs. 99,990, jumped by Rs. 39,910. It now commands a premium retail price of Rs. 1,39,900.

Shipping Delays and Supply Chain Bottlenecks
This semiconductor crisis impacts more than just consumer pricing. Indian buyers looking to purchase top-tier Mac configurations will also have to contend with extended shipping times and modified delivery schedules. Placing an order online will now take noticeably longer than before. Apple has openly stated that these severe supply chain constraints are highly likely to persist for at least a few more months, making immediate product availability difficult for the foreseeable future.