Trending Articles, Demos and tech notes

Apple's Price Rises: How Bad Is It Really?

Apple's latest round of price increases has landed hard across its Mac, iPad, and home device lineups, and the pain is not limited to new products. Even Apple's Certified Refurbished store, long considered a refuge for budget-conscious buyers, has seen prices climb by between 6% and 15% compared to listings from just weeks earlier.

The driving force behind the hikes is not a weakening pound or post-Brexit tariff pressure, as has historically been the case with UK Apple price surges. This time, outgoing CEO Tim Cook pointed to a more structural cause: scarcity of memory components being redirected to support the rapid build-out of AI infrastructure. In other words, Apple silicon that goes into a MacBook or iPad is now competing for allocation against data centres powering AI and similar services.

How Do the Numbers Stack Up?

To put the scale of the increases in context, consider some specific examples from Apple's own refurbished store:

• A refurbished 15-inch MacBook Air M4 (16GB/256GB) rose from $929 to $1,019 — a $90 jump in under two weeks.
• A refurbished 14-inch MacBook Pro M5 (16GB/512GB) increased from $1,359 to $1,439, up $80.
• A refurbished 24-inch iMac M4 saw one of the steeper rises, climbing $170 from $1,099 to $1,269.
• A refurbished 13-inch iPad Pro M4 (Wi-Fi, 256GB) increased by $150, moving from $1,019 to $1,169.

Unlike the exchange-rate-driven spikes that followed Brexit or the dollar surges of 2022, these increases apply to existing inventory — devices with components already installed. That makes them harder to justify on a pure cost basis, and harder for buyers to avoid by simply waiting for currency conditions to improve.

TL:DR – For UK buyers accustomed to Apple prices that already sit well above US equivalents after VAT and import costs, these additional increases compound an already unfavourable position — and, critically, they now extend right through to the refurbished market that many relied upon as a more affordable alternative, but bargans can be found!

The Ripple Effect means that Refurbished Prices Are Rising

For budget-conscious Apple fans, the Certified Refurbished store has long served as a pressure valve — a way to get genuine Apple hardware at a meaningful discount. That safety net is now fraying. Apple's own refurbished listings have seen price increases of between 6% and 15% across a range of Mac and iPad models, closing much of the gap that made refurb shopping so attractive in the first place.

How Much More Are Refurbs Costing?

Comparing listings from mid-June 2026 against earlier archived prices reveals some telling jumps:

Why This Is Particularly Surprising

What makes these increases eyebrow-raising is the nature of refurbished stock itself. CNET noted, "these are machines with existing memory and processors — Apple likely isn't sourcing new components". The stated rationale for new-product price hikes — a scarcity of memory components being redirected toward AI infrastructure — sits uneasily alongside higher prices for hardware that has already been built and reconditioned.

For buyers, the practical takeaway is significant. Some US based retailers selling older refurbished Apple models, such as Best Buy, had not yet incorporated the new pricing as of late June 2026. Likewise, promotional sale pricing at retailers like Amazon had not yet reflected Apple's increases — though that window may not remain open for long.

Where the Real Bargains Still Exist in the UK

Apple's own Certified Refurbished store has not been immune to recent price rises, with some reconditioned models climbing by as much as 15%, the increases have been slower to filter through to third-parties. For UK buyers, this lag represents a genuine, if temporary, window of opportunity. Take this example, 30 June 2026. Saving a cool £1199 and getting double the unified memory makes for a sobering price difference. Apple Certified refurbished computers look like new, and are eligible for AppleCare, whereas this is a grade B from Computer Exchange which may not have a boxx, and might have a few marks but has a Computer Exchange 5 year warranty which is unbeatbable. I know which one I would choose! And indeed I bought my M1 Max 64GB/1TB from Computer Exchange a few months ago. No issues. Always worth going to the store to inspect the computer first though.

Third-Party Resellers Worth Considering

Apart from Computer Exchange, other UK-based refurbishment specialists such as Music Magpie, Back Market, and Laptops Direct regularly stock older-generation Apple hardware at prices that have not yet caught up with Apple's revised pricing structure. These platforms often carry models one or two generations behind the current lineup — think MacBook Air M2 or iPad Pro M2 — which remain capable, well-supported machines at meaningfully lower prices. Always filter for grade A or "excellent" condition listings, and look for sellers offering at least a 12-month warranty as a baseline quality assurance. 

Older Generations as a Smart Value Play

Buying a previous-generation model is arguably the shrewdest move a UK buyer can make right now. Apple supports its devices with software updates for many years, meaning an M2 or M3 chip machine still delivers strong real-world performance for the vast majority of users, at a fraction of the cost of the latest silicon.

Tips for Buying Refurbished Outside Apple's Store

• Check that the seller is an authorised reseller or carries a recognised quality grade certification.
• Look for a minimum 12-month warranty. Any reputable platforms typically offer this as standard. Computer Exchange offer five years which is far beyond any other reseller although they dont really refurbish, just grade and sell what is available to them.
• Review the returns policy carefully; a 30-day return window is a reasonable expectation.
• Cross-reference prices on comparison sites to confirm you are genuinely beating Apple's own refurb pricing.
• Avoid unverified private listings on auction sites unless the seller has a strong, verified feedback history.

The key takeaway for UK buyers is to act while the price gap between Apple's own store and third-party refurb channels remains wide — that window is unlikely to stay open indefinitely.

Buying Smart: Which Apple Products Offer the Best Value Right Now?

With new Apple prices rising sharply across the board, many UK buyers are turning to Apple's Certified Refurbished store as a way to soften the blow. However, it is worth noting that refurbished prices have also climbed — in some cases by 6% to 15% — meaning the savings gap between new and refurbished has narrowed considerably.

Where the Value Still Lies

Despite the increases, older refurbished models can still represent strong value, particularly if you do not need the very latest chip generation. A previous-generation MacBook Air or iPad Pro bought through a third-party refurbisher — rather than directly through Apple — may not yet reflect the new pricing, making those channels worth exploring before committing.

New vs. Refurbished: How to Decide

Before opting for a refurbished device, ask yourself the following:

• Do you need the latest chip? For everyday tasks such as browsing, email and video calls, a one- or two-generation-old processor will perform perfectly well.
• What warranty is included? Apple's Certified Refurbished products come with a one-year warranty, but third-party sellers vary significantly — always confirm coverage before buying.
• Has the price actually been discounted? Given that Apple's own refurbished store has raised prices [1], compare listings carefully against the original retail price to ensure you are getting a genuine saving.

Key Checks for UK Buyers

UK consumers benefit from strong statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act, so confirm whether the seller is a business or private individual, as this affects your protections. Also verify that the device is unlocked, carries a UK or EU power adapter, and has not been reported lost or stolen by checking the serial number through Apple's own coverage checker before any money changes hands.

See also: Which MacBook, Which M4 MacBook Model should you buy?, Deeply Comparing the MacBook Pro M1 M2 M3 and M4 Max and Why the Apple Macbook Pro M2 is a Hidden Gem