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Apple price hikes have hit Australia, and the MacBook Neo no longer looks quite so cheap
- Apple has raised prices across multiple categories in Australia
- The MacBook Neo has lost some of its entry-level appeal
- The move follows rising RAM and storage costs
Australian shoppers looking for EOFY offers, or waiting for early Amazon Prime Day tech deals, now have another price shift to factor in. Apple has raised local prices across several major product categories, including the new MacBook Neo, MacBook Air, iPad range, Apple TV 4K, HomePod mini and more.
The timing is awkward, but it also hasn't come from nowhere. Apple has usually been better than most tech companies at absorbing supply chain pressure before it reaches shoppers, though the current RAM and component crunch has been dragging on for long enough to change that calculation.
The warning signs came last month, when Tim Cook flagged "significantly higher memory costs" on an earnings call, then said RAM prices would "drive an increasing impact" on Apple products from this month.
Australian buyers will feel this
One of the clearest examples is the new MacBook Neo, Apple's lower-cost MacBook model and the machine most likely to appeal to students, or anyone trying to get a new Apple laptop for less than MacBook Air money. In Australia it launched with a price from AU$899. It now starts at AU$1,049, so it has lost some of its entry-level appeal.
Sure, itβs still Apple's cheapest laptop, but the higher starting price makes it less competitive against Windows laptops that have been fighting to compete with the Neo. The 512GB model with Touch ID has also gone from AU$1,099 to AU$1,249.
The MacBook Air has lost some of its competitive edge, and the 13-inch model with the M5 chip (check out our MacBook Air 13-inch M5 review) has jumped from AU$1,799 to AU$2,099 to start.
The 15-inch model is up by the same AU$300 amount, from AU$2,199 to AU$2,499. For a laptop that often sits in the middle of Apple's consumer Mac range, that is a significant hit to its value proposition.
The MacBook Pro increases are especially notable in some configurations. The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 now starts at AU$3,199, up from AU$2,699, and the higher-end M5 Max models have also moved up by several hundred dollars. Buyers looking at extra memory or storage were already dealing with expensive upgrades, so the higher base prices only make that decision harder.
The Mac mini is another notable hit. It has gone from AU$999 to AU$1,299, which is a 30% increase on a machine that has often been one of the easier Apple desktops to justify on price.
The iPad range is up, which matters for students, families and anyone who was looking at a new tablet for work, study, travel or general use. The 11-inch iPad Air now starts at AU$1,249, up from AU$999, while the standard iPad, iPad mini and iPad Pro models have also increased.
The rises are not limited to Macs and iPads. HomePod mini has gone from AU$149 to AU$199, HomePod is up from AU$479 to AU$549, and Apple TV 4K has jumped from AU$219 to AU$299. Vision Pro was already a niche product at AU$5,999, and the new AU$6,299 starting price certainly does not broaden its appeal.
Apple's iPhone lineup, Apple Watch and AirPods appear to have avoided this round of increases at least. That helps limit the pain for some buyers, but it doesnβt change the issue for anyone who was waiting to buy a Mac, iPad or other Apple device.
Aussie price changes
Device | Old price | New price | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
iPad | AU$599 | AU$749 | AU$150 (25%) |
iPad Air 11 | AU$999 | AU$1,249 | AU$250 (25%) |
iPad Air 13 | AU$1,349 | AU$1,599 | AU$250 (19%) |
iPad Pro 11 | AU$1,699 | AU$1,999 | AU$300 (18%) |
iPad Pro 13 | AU$2,199 | AU$2,599 | AU$400 (18%) |
iPad mini | AU$799 | AU$949 | AU$150 (19%) |
Device | Old price | New price | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
MacBook Neo | AU$899 | AU$1,049 | AU$150 (17%) |
MacBook Neo 512GB with Touch ID | AU$1,099 | AU$1,249 | AU$150 (14%) |
MacBook Air 13 | AU$1,799 | AU$2,099 | AU$300 (17%) |
MacBook Air 15 | AU$2,199 | AU$2,499 | AU$300 (14%) |
MacBook Pro 14-inch M5 | AU$2,699 | AU$3,199 | AU$500 (19%) |
MacBook Pro 14-inch M5 Pro | AU$3,499 | AU$3,999 | AU$500 (14%) |
MacBook Pro 16-inch M5 Pro | AU$4,299 | AU$4,799 | AU$500 (12%) |
MacBook Pro 14-inch M5 Max | AU$5,799 | AU$6,399 | AU$600 (10%) |
MacBook Pro 16-inch M5 Max | AU$6,299 | AU$6,999 | AU$700 (11%) |
Mac mini | AU$999 | AU$1,299 | AU$300 (30%) |
iMac | AU$1,999 | AU$2,399 | AU$400 (20%) |
Mac Studio (M4 Max) | AU$3,499 | AU$4,299 | AU$800 (23%) |
Mac Studio (M3 Ultra) | AU$6,999 | AU$9,099 | AU$2,100 (30%) |
Device | Old price | New price | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
HomePod mini | AU$149 | AU$199 | AU$50 (34%) |
HomePod | AU$479 | AU$549 | AU$70 (15%) |
Apple TV 4K | AU$219 | AU$299 | AU$80 (37%) |
Vision Pro | AU$5,999 | AU$6,299 | AU$300 (5%) |
Of course, Apple is not the only company dealing with higher memory and storage costs, but the scale of these changes is still pretty notable. Price rises across one or two products are easy enough to explain. Price rises across most of Appleβs range are not something thatβs easily avoided.
An Apple spokesperson said: βThe consumer electronics industry is facing an unprecedented challenge. The rapid expansion of AI data centers has created an extraordinary surge in demand for memory and storage. We have never seen a component price increase this much, this quickly. We have shielded our customers from these increases so far, but we have now reached a point where we need to begin raising prices on a number of products, including todayβs increases for iPad and Mac. We know this is not welcome news, and we are working tirelessly to find solutions.β
The main question is whether the Australian prices come back down if the RAM shortage eases, or whether these higher starting points become normal. We are hopeful, but Apple hasnβt promised a reversal.
For now, local retailers may be worth checking more closely, especially if older stock or short-term deal pricing remains available during EOFY and early Prime Day sales periods.
To help out, we have included some of the better remaining Apple deals below.
Best old price Apple deals
All these MacBook Neos on Amazon are currently listed as temporarily out of stock, but you can still order then from Amazon at this price to lock it in, and then Amazon will ship it out once available. With stock disappearing quickly, this might be one of your best ways to score the old price, as long as you don't mind waiting for delivery.
You can also get the 512GB model for AU$1,079, also temporarily out of stock, but still able to be ordered. View Deal
The MacBook Air M5 launched recently, so most of this saving comes from Apple's price hikes, but that means it's still a useful discount on Apple's newest lightweight laptop. In comparison, it's currently AU$2,099 from Apple. Want to know more? Check out our MacBook Air M5 review.
Also consider the 1TB SSD model for AU$1,897 β now AU$2,549 from Apple. Or the 24GB RAM, 1TB Air, for AU$2,197 β now AU$2,849 from Apple. View Deal
The 15-inch MacBook Air is currently AU$2,499 from Apple, so this is now a solid discount. Keep in mind that it is temporarily out of stock, so you can order now but delivery will be delayed.
Also consider the 1TB SSD model for AU$2,297 β now AU$2,949 from Apple. Or the 24GB RAM, 1TB Air, for AU$2,697 β now AU$3,249 from Apple. View Deal
This 16GB MacBook Pro currently has a great discount from Amazon compared to buying it for AU$3,199 from Apple. There's very limited stock though so it will likely sell out fast.View Deal
This is a tempting discount on the 11-inch iPad Air (base price was AU$999 yesterday) if you want a fast, lightweight tablet for streaming, study or work without stepping up to an iPad Pro. The M3 chip gives it plenty of headroom for multitasking and creative apps, and our iPad Air 11-inch (2025) review noted its excellent screen and impressive battery life.View Deal
Other Apple deals
These products haven't gone up in price, but they're still great deals. Want more? Check out our dedicated EOFY Apple sales page. Or for more laptops, take a look at our best EOFY laptop deals.
This four-pack is a decent buy if you want to cover keys, bags, wallets and luggage in one go, especially in an iPhone household. Our AirTag 2 hands-on found the new model easier to find from farther away and clearly louder than the original. View Deal
The AirPods 4 are a tempting buy if you want Appleβs latest open-fit earbuds without stepping up to the ANC model. Our AirPods 4 review found they sounded good and offered a secure, comfortable fit despite the lack of in-ear tips.View Deal
This is a tempting price for iPhone users who want a full-featured Apple Watch without jumping to the Ultra. The always-on display, ECG app, sleep score and fitness tracking make it a useful everyday smartwatch, while the 42mm case is the more manageable size. Our Apple Watch Series 11 review praised the improved battery life, though Series 10 owners have less reason to upgrade.View Deal
While this discount is small, the iPhone 16e is a decent buy if youβre after a lower-cost iPhone with Apple Intelligence support, especially if youβre upgrading from an older SE model. The A18 chip, 6.1-inch OLED display and USB-C port make it feel much more modern. Our iPhone 16e review praised its screen and performance, but the single rear camera and lack of MagSafe may matter to some people.View Deal
