Rising memory & battery costs complicate Apple's lower-cost MacBook
Initial guess-work about Apple's low-cost MacBook in 2023 set pricing at about $500, but surprise increases in component pricing since then are a problem in 2026.Apple MacBooksIndustry forecasts project Apple's MacBook shipments will rise 1.4% quarter over quarter and 3.7% year over year in early 2026. Total MacBook shipments are expected to reach 21 million units in 2026, up from 20.55 million in 2025, a modest gain that stands out in a weakening market.Global notebook shipments are expected to decline in early 2026 due to cautious enterprise spending and a slower consumer upgrade cycle. Apple's expansion is happening against that backdrop, not in spite of it. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
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Rising memory & battery costs complicate Apple's lower-cost MacBook
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Andrew Orr
Wed Feb 25 2026, 10:44 AM EST
2 minute read
Apple MacBooks
Initial guess-work about Apple's low-cost MacBook in 2023 set pricing at about $500, but surprise increases in component pricing since then are a problem in 2026.
Industry forecasts project Apple's MacBook shipments will rise 1.4% quarter over quarter and 3.7% year over year in early 2026. Total MacBook shipments are expected to reach 21 million units in 2026, up from 20.55 million in 2025, a modest gain that stands out in a weakening market.
Global notebook shipments are expected to decline in early 2026 due to cautious enterprise spending and a slower consumer upgrade cycle. Apple's expansion is happening against that backdrop, not in spite of it.
MacBook growth in a shrinking PC market
Growth in a shrinking industry tends to consolidate around the strongest players. Companies with tighter integration and clearer product strategy often outperform when margins are under pressure.
Apple has done it before, gaining Mac share during the Windows Vista era and continuing to push forward with Apple Silicon even as the broader PC market slowed. Competitors, meanwhile, focused on cutting costs rather than investing through the downturn.
Launching a lower-cost MacBook during a soft cycle fits that history and reflects continuity rather than a strategic pivot.
Rising memory and battery costs pressure 2026 MacBook pricing
Memory prices have climbed sharply over the past year, reports Digitimes, squeezing margins across the PC industry. Suppliers have prioritized domestic demand in some regions and reached capacity in key segments, limiting relief from additional output.
[Image: Open silver MacBook on a white desk, half closed, showing Apple logo, with blurred shelves, decor, and blue-purple ambient lighting in the background]
Global notebook shipments are expected to decline in early 2026
Battery costs are rising as well, with international cobalt prices surging after export restrictions from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Battery module pricing climbed roughly 10% to 15% in February 2026 alone, adding more pressure across the industry.
Apple CEO Tim Cook said during an earnings call that cost pressures would be limited in the first quarter of 2026 but would become more noticeable in the second quarter. Every PC vendor faces those pressures, but not all have the same room to absorb them.
How Apple Silicon and vertical integration give Apple an edge
Most Windows PC makers depend on third-party CPU and GPU suppliers and compete primarily on price and configuration. When commodity component costs rise, profit margins narrow quickly.
Apple designs its own processors and controls the hardware and software stack across macOS. It spreads silicon development costs across Macs, iPads, and other products, giving it flexibility in how chips are binned and how the lineup is structured.
[Image: Closed silver MacBook with Apple logo rests on a white desk, ports visible on the side, with blurred office items and a brick wall in the background]
A lower-cost MacBook built around Apple Silicon can maintain strong performance
The company doesn't control global memory or cobalt markets, but it has an impact on them due to how it manages its silicon roadmap, industrial design trade-offs, and pricing architecture. Such integration gives it options competitors often don't have.
Why Apple is expanding MacBook share during a PC downturn
A lower-cost MacBook built around Apple Silicon can maintain strong performance and battery life even if certain specifications are adjusted to manage costs.
Softer PC markets create openings for companies willing to think beyond the next quarter. When global shipments decline and competitors scale back marketing or delay refresh cycles, stronger vendors can widen their reach.
A lower-cost MacBook gives Apple a way to freshly expand into education after it lost the lead there, plus more price-sensitive segments without diluting the Mac's premium identity. Financing programs, trade-in offers, deals, and ecosystem lock-in lower the barrier for buyers considering a switch.
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[Original source](https://appleinsider.com/articles/26/02/25/rising-memory-battery-costs-complicate-apples-lower-cost-macbook?utm_source=rss)