Apple’s Price Hikes Hit MacBook Neo and Apple TV 4K — But You Still Have Options

Apple’s price increase: what changed and why it matters

Apple’s recent price increase is a broad hike across most of its Mac and iPad lineup plus Apple TV 4K, driven by a global memory shortage that has raised the cost of RAM and storage and forced the company to rethink how it prices even its most popular hardware. The key takeaway for buyers is harsh but clear: if you walk into an Apple Store today and buy a current MacBook or Apple TV 4K off the shelf, you will pay significantly more than you would have a week ago, yet there are still concrete ways to dodge those hikes if you are willing to be strategic. Apple has begun rolling out price hikes across most of its device lineup, with MacBooks and iPads among the hardest hit. The 13‑inch M5 MacBook Air now costs USD 1,299 (approx. RM6,000) instead of USD 1,099 (approx. RM5,070), while the M5 MacBook Pro has jumped from USD 1,699 (approx. RM7,840) to USD 1,999 (approx. RM9,220). The 11‑inch iPad Pro has climbed from USD 999 (approx. RM4,610) to USD 1,199 (approx. RM5,540). This is not a minor adjustment; it’s a full‑scale repricing that changes how good Apple’s value equation looks across its ecosystem.

MacBook Neo price hike: from hero product to harder sell

The MacBook Neo is the poster child for how much this Apple price increase hurts everyday buyers. Apple has increased the price of the MacBook Neo from USD 599 (approx. RM2,760) to USD 699 (approx. RM3,220), turning what was a must‑buy deal into a more hesitant purchase. For a laptop that built its reputation on being the first truly accessible Mac notebook, losing that psychological USD 599 (approx. RM2,760) entry point changes the story. The MacBook Neo’s hike is blamed on RAM and storage price and availability tensions, plus the fact that Apple is running out of the binned A18 Pro chips originally earmarked for this machine. Analysts had already suggested Apple would need to buy new chips to satisfy demand, and those new chips are caught in the same memory‑driven cost spiral. Yet the move still feels like a missed opportunity: there is a case to be made for the MacBook Neo being a halo product that should have withstood price pressures, because its low price pulled people toward iPhones, iPads and AirPods.

Apple TV 4K price jump and the streaming value gap

If the MacBook Neo hike stings, the Apple TV 4K price might feel downright aggressive. The 64GB Apple TV 4K has increased by USD 70 (approx. RM320), from USD 129 (approx. RM595) to USD 199 (approx. RM920), while the 128GB version now costs USD 249 (approx. RM1,150) instead of USD 149 (approx. RM690). For a streaming box released years ago, seeing such a jump is unsettling. The logic, again, is the same: an ongoing global memory shortage, driven by AI demand, is pushing up the cost of RAM and storage. This makes any box that needs more memory to support future Siri AI and Apple Intelligence features more expensive to build. But for consumers, the brutal comparison is simple: the Apple TV 4K’s main competitors, Roku Ultra and Google TV Streamer, both cost USD 100 (approx. RM460), a full USD 100 (approx. RM460) less than the 64GB Apple TV 4K now. At that price gap, recommending Apple’s streamer over rivals becomes much harder unless you are deeply locked into Apple’s ecosystem.

Refurbished MacBook deals: the easiest way to pay yesterday’s prices

Here’s the good news: the most straightforward way to beat the MacBook Neo price hike is now officially on the table. Apple has started offering the MacBook Neo in its refurbished store, and the price for the entry‑level model with 256GB of storage and no Touch ID is back to USD 599 (approx. RM2,760). That used to be the price for the new laptop before the increase; now you can get a refurbished one for the same amount. If you want the variant with 512GB of storage and Touch ID, a refurbished unit costs USD 679 (approx. RM3,130), which is USD 20 (approx. RM90) less than this configuration used to go for new before the hike; a new one now sets you back USD 799 (approx. RM3,690). Crucially, these refurbished MacBook deals come with a one‑year warranty just like a new device, full functionality testing, replacement of any defective parts, thorough cleaning and repackaging, plus a USB‑C cable and 20W power adapter in the box. In practical terms, refurbished MacBook Neo models let you enjoy the original pricing without sacrificing peace of mind.

How to avoid paying more: strategy across Apple’s lineup

The smartest response to Apple’s price increase is not outrage, but strategy. First, note that iPhones are the only major product line to escape the hike so far, making them the last island of stable pricing in Apple’s hardware sea. Apple also avoided increasing prices on Apple Watch and AirPods, but commentators warn this likely will not last forever. So what should you do now? For Macs, treat refurbished MacBook Neo and other refurbished machines as your default starting point: you are saving cash, keeping the one‑year warranty, and sidestepping the new‑device markup. For streaming, ask whether you truly need Apple TV 4K; rivals deliver similar experiences at half the current Apple TV 4K price. In short, consumers can strategically choose between new hardware, refurbished deals, and non‑affected products to minimize the impact of these hikes, instead of accepting the first price Apple puts in front of them. The conclusion is blunt: Apple might not take one for the team, but informed buyers still can.