Apple's Tim Cook says AI-fueled 'RAMmageddon' will make your next laptop and phone a lot pricier

Apple CEO Tim Cook warned on the company’s Q2 2026 earnings call that rising memory (RAM) costs tied to AI-driven demand are becoming a growing headwind. Apple said memory had minimal impact in December, pushed margins in the March quarter, and it expects “significantly higher memory costs” in the June quarter and beyond, only partly offset by carry‑in inventory. Management flagged memory constraints among several supply issues and said it is evaluating options as higher component costs could pressure gross margins and force pricier, less-upgradable consumer devices. For investors, this introduces margin risk for AAPL and potential upward pressure on product prices, while Apple plans to weigh investments under incoming CEO John Ternus (taking the reins in September).