Technology news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Which MacBook to Buy (2026): My Honest Advice on Which to Buy
WIRED has updated its MacBook buying guide for 2026, and the headline development is that Apple sharply raised the price of every MacBook and iPad on 25 June, despite the models themselves being unchanged. This is notable because Apple rarely increases prices outside of a product refresh, and the rises come only months after the cheaper MacBook Neo launched, making the timing especially unusual for buyers.
Apple attributes the increases to soaring memory and storage chip costs, blaming an "extraordinary surge in demand" driven by AI data centres, a shortage expected to last years rather than months. The new prices span the MacBook Neo at $699 (up 14%), the 13-inch and 15-inch Airs at $1,299 and $1,499, and the 14-inch and 16-inch Pros at $1,999 and $2,999, with rises ranging from $100 to $400. The guide also notes rumours of a high-end OLED touchscreen "MacBook Ultra" with an M6 chip later this year, and details Apple's current M5, M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, the last offering up to 40 GPU cores.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Apple faces genuine material cost pressures from semiconductor shortages driven by AI data centre demand, a shortage expected to persist for years. Commodity price increases of this scale require corresponding price adjustments to maintain viability, and distributing increases across all models ensures customers at every price point remain served. This represents standard practice when facing significant supply-side cost shocks.
The case against
The timing appears opportunistic rather than necessity-driven, with Apple raising prices on unchanged products just months after launching the cheaper MacBook Neo. Increases ranging from $100 to $400 suggest strategic profit-taking rather than genuine cost-passing. The underlying demand surge stems from AI data centres serving major technology companies that profit substantially from this infrastructure; individual consumers should not bear the full burden of industry competition they do not participate in, particularly when businesses traditionally maintain margins during supply constraints.
Explained simply
Apple manufactures MacBooks, premium laptops used worldwide for work, creative projects and everyday computing. The company offers several models at different price points, from the more affordable MacBook Neo to high-performance Pro versions designed for professionals requiring significant computing power.
Apple typically adjusts MacBook prices only when introducing new models with upgraded components, rather than raising prices on existing, unchanged hardware. Price changes between major product generations are relatively uncommon, which is why recent developments in the MacBook market have prompted updated buying guidance and attracted considerable buyer attention.
The global technology industry faces substantial shortages of computer memory and storage chips, driven by exceptional demand from artificial intelligence data centres. These shortages are expected to persist for several years, creating economic pressures that influence how major technology companies approach their product and pricing decisions.