iPad Pro Pricing News: Apple Increases iPad Pro Cost by $50 Without Any Given Reason
Shortly after Apple announced a new line of products last Sept. 12, the company has also quietly increased the prices of some iPad Pro models.
The bizarre aspects about the sudden price increase is the lack of both explanation and upgrades.
Notably, the price adjustments were only applied to the 256 GB and 512 GB variants of the 12.9-inch and 10.5-inch iPad Pro tablets. The 64 GB configuration will retain its introductory price.
With the new pricing scheme, a 10.5-inch iPad Pro with 256 GB storage now costs $799 while its 512 GB counterpart is now priced $999. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro with 256 GB storage is priced $949 while the 512 GB model now costs $1,149.
It is not a common thing for Apple to increase the price of a device unless there was an upgrade in its hardware or technical specifications, which was not the case here.
While Apple has yet to comment on the price increases, there are speculations that the company opted to increase the tablets' price due to an earlier reported shortage on memory chips used on devices like the iPad Pro.
Back in June, Reuters reported that other electronics manufacturers were worried that the release of the new iPhones this year – and the demands it would yield – would worsen the existing shortage in memory chips.
The situation prompted other global manufacturers to stack up their supplies. LG said in statement: "After the supply shortages emerged we brought forward our procurement decisions ... to ensure a stable supply."
On the other hand, Reuters maintained that a manufacturer as big as Apple was unlikely going to feel the effects of the memory chips shortage.
Apple is undoubtedly on top of the chain when it comes to making smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other products. With the size of the company, they have more likely entered long-term agreements with supply chains that ensure they have an ample supply of staple electronic parts, like memory chips, even in the coming years.