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Table of contents Which Apple products got more expensive? Full Apple price increase breakdown Which Apple products are still at the old price Why Apple raised its prices Is the iPhone affected too? What about prices outside the US? Should you buy now? How long will prices stay high? Sub Heading 2 Apple raised prices on several of its devices on Thursday . The price hikes hit the Mac, iPad, Apple TV, HomePod, HomePod mini, and Vision Pro lineups. Apple says the increase is tied to a global shortage of memory and storage chips, driven by the huge demand for AI data centres. This article breaks down every affected product, the old and new prices for each, and what it means for you if you were planning to buy an Apple device soon. Which Apple products got more expensive? Apple’s online store briefly went offline on Thursday morning and came back up with new prices already in place. Here is the full list of products affected. Mac: MacBook Neo MacBook Air (13-inch and 15-inch) MacBook Pro (M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max) iMac Mac Studio (M4 Max and M3 Ultra) Mac mini (M4 Pro) iPad: iPad (A16) iPad Air (11-inch and 13-inch) iPad Pro (11-inch and 13-inch) iPad mini Other devices: Apple TV 4K HomePod HomePod mini Vision Pro The increases range from $30 to $1,300, depending on the device. Full Apple price increase breakdown Here is exactly how much more you will pay for each device now, compared to the old price. Apple did not change the storage or memory on any of these models, so you are paying more for the same hardware as before. Mac price changes iPad price changes Apple TV, HomePod, and Vision Pro price changes Apple had already discontinued its cheapest Mac mini back in May, before this latest round of increases. Today’s price hike affects the higher M4 Pro Mac mini configuration, which moved from $1,399 to $1,599. Keep the two changes separate when you compare prices. Which Apple products are still at the old price Some Apple products were left out of this price increase. They include: iPhone (every current model) Apple Watch AirPods Studio Display and Apple Pencil So if you want an iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods, or Studio Display, you can still buy them at the old price for now. Why Apple raised its prices Apple blamed the increase on a shortage of memory and storage chips. In a statement, the company said the rapid growth of AI data centres has created a huge surge in demand for memory and storage, and that it has never seen prices rise this fast. Apple added that it had protected customers from the cost increases for as long as it could, but has now reached a point where it needs to raise prices on some products. CEO Tim Cook had already warned this was coming. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal on June 17, he described the shortage as a “hundred-year flood” and said he had never seen anything like it in over 40 years on the job. The shortage stems from chip makers such as Micron, Samsung, SK Hynix, and Kioxia shifting more of their production to high-bandwidth memory used in AI servers. That leaves less memory for everyday devices like laptops, tablets, game consoles, and smart speakers, which pushes prices up. Is the iPhone affected too? The iPhone was left out of this round of price changes, but that could change soon. Analysts expect Apple to raise iPhone prices later this year, most likely when the iPhone 18 launches in September. Estimates on how much more you might pay vary widely. JPMorgan expects an increase of around $50 Evercore expects an increase of around $100 Counterpoint Research expects an increase of $150 to $200 TechInsights expects an increase of as much as $270 on some models Apple is not alone here. Other companies have already raised prices because of the same memory shortage. Microsoft raised Xbox console prices, with some models going up by $150 Samsung raised prices on its Galaxy S26 lineup Dell, HP, Lenovo, Acer, and ASUS have raised laptop prices, too Sony and Nintendo have also raised prices on their gaming consoles What about prices outside the US? The increase applies to Apple’s online store worldwide, including the UK, where the MacBook Neo went from £599 to £699. For African markets like Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and Ghana, there is no confirmed local price change yet. Apple does not run direct stores in these countries. Instead, devices are sold through authorised resellers like iStore, and local prices depend on currency exchange rates, import duties, and reseller margins, in addition to Apple’s own pricing. This means prices in these markets could rise eventually, but the change will likely take time to show up, layered on top of the usual currency and import cost shifts you already see locally. Should you buy now? If you want a MacBook or iPad, buying now could save you money for a short while. Some retailers, like Amazon, still had old prices live during Prime Day, which ends on June 26. Once that sale ends, expect prices everywhere to match Apple’s new numbers. Apple’s Back to School promotion is also expected to return around July 1, which often includes free AirPods or gift cards with select purchases. That could help offset some of the new pricing if you are a student. If you are after an iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods, or Studio Display, there’s no rush since those prices have not changed. Just keep in mind that more increases could come later this year. How long will prices stay high? Experts expect the chip shortage to continue for years. Chip maker Micron expects tight supply to continue beyond 2027. Intel’s CEO has said relief is unlikely before 2028. Some analysts think the pricing pressure could last until 2030. This means the new Apple prices might be here to stay, even after
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Much of the conversation about artificial intelligence (AI) in Africa has focused on talent, startups, research, and infrastructure. The continent could soon find itself in more consequential conversations, like how AI will reshape warfare. The debate is significant because Africa remains one of the world’s most conflict-affected regions. The continent accounted for over 40% of the world’s armed conflicts in 2025. As AI becomes embedded in military systems—from surveillance and targeting to autonomous drones—Africa will be among the first places to face the consequences of these technologies. On Tuesday, Kenya was confirmed as the host of the Fourth Summit on Responsible Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain (REAIM), set for April 2027. The summit is the world’s leading forum on military AI governance, bringing together governments, defence officials, technology companies, and researchers to debate the technology’s military applications. “Our discussion explored how Kenya can build practical connections between the REAIM process and the AI Action Summit, particularly around responsible AI, security, dual-use technologies, capacity building, and the role of states in shaping concrete implementation pathways,” Kenya’s special envoy on technology, Phillip Thigo, posted on his LinkedIn after meeting Reto Wollenmann, deputy head of Swiss Section for Arms Control and Disarmament. AI on battlefields AI is moving into defence faster than governments are developing rules to govern it. That governance gap extends even in other sectors, including finance, healthcare, and education. AI adoption has outpaced the creation of comprehensive legislation to govern its use. Across the world, militaries are already using AI to analyse intelligence, identify potential targets, coordinate logistics, monitor cyber threats, and support battlefield decision-making. Autonomous drones have become a defining feature of modern conflicts from Ukraine to the Middle East. Defence planners increasingly view AI as a strategic capability on par with satellites, cyber weapons, and advanced missile systems. Africa is largely absent from the development of these technologies. But it will not be absent from their consequences. That reality helps explain why Kenya’s appointment as host is more significant than just another international conference coming to Nairobi. Previous REAIM summits have been hosted in The Hague, the Netherlands (2023), Seoul, South Korea (2024), and A Coruña, Spain (2026). For the first time, an African country will help shape discussions around technologies that could influence global security for decades. The timing is also notable because military AI governance remains unsettled. There is no global treaty governing autonomous weapons. Further, there are no internationally accepted laws that define the role humans should play in AI military systems. There is also no consensus on accountability when an autonomous system causes civilian harm. The world’s major powers agree that safeguards are needed, but disagree on what those safeguards should look like. As a result, military AI remains one of the few major technological domains where the rules are still being written. Africa’s role in military AI Historically, Africa has entered such conversations late. The continent played a limited role in shaping Internet governance. It had little influence over the development of social media platforms despite becoming one of their fastest-growing markets, according to Geopoll. It has often adopted digital systems designed elsewhere, only to spend years responding to their unintended consequences. Military AI presents an opportunity to avoid repeating that pattern. The issue is not simply weapons. Much of the technology being discussed at REAIM has dual-use applications. Computer vision systems used to identify military targets can also power mass surveillance. Facial recognition systems deployed for security purposes can be used for civilian monitoring. Predictive analytics designed for intelligence gathering can influence law enforcement and border management. This only means that the distinction between military and civilian AI is becoming blurred. For African governments, that raises a different set of questions. How should states balance security and privacy? What safeguards should exist around AI-powered surveillance? And how should governments regulate technologies that are simultaneously commercial products and national security assets? These questions are urgent as governments across the continent, including Kenya, Uganda, Egypt, and Nigeria, expand investments in digital identity systems, surveillance infrastructure, and cybersecurity. The military AI debate is therefore becoming part of a conversation about state power. Africa’s security realities may also give the continent a perspective that differs from those of major military powers. The United States, China, and Europe focus on state-on-state competition and geopolitical rivalry. Many African governments are more concerned with terrorism, piracy, insurgencies, organised crime, and border security. AI systems developed for conventional warfare may not be suited to these environments. Likewise, governance frameworks designed for wealthy countries with strong institutions may not translate easily into regions where technical expertise, regulatory capacity, and digital infrastructure remain uneven. Kenya’s significance That creates an opportunity for African countries to influence the evolution of global military AI governance. Kenya has already been positioning itself for that role. The country co-hosted REAIM 2024 in Seoul, South Korea, sits on the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level Advisory Body on AI, helped advance the first UN General Assembly resolution on AI, and has hosted regional consultations to increase African participation in military AI discussions. What appears to be happening is that Kenya is attempting to establish itself as a bridge between advanced economies, developing frontier AI systems, and emerging markets that will eventually adopt them. However, the significance extends across the continent. For much of the AI boom, Africa’s role has largely been framed in terms of inclusion. The discussion focused on how the continent could gain access to computing resources, attract investment, develop local talent, and ensure African languages are represented in AI systems. Military AI introduces a different conversation about governance, sovereignty, and ultimately, power. Countries that influence AI governance today may shape international security for decades. In the same way early internet governance decisions shaped the digital economy, decisions made over the next few years could determine how autonomous weapons, AI-enabled surveillance, and algorithmic decision-making are regulated globally. The countries present when those decisions are made will have an advantage. The countries absent from the conversation may
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After years of funding blockchain pilots, startup programmes and public-sector projects across Africa, Cardano, a global blockchain company that operates the cryptocurrency ADA with $5.45 billion in market cap, is turning its attention to a less visible question: who decides what gets built, funded, and prioritised across the ecosystem. Founded in 2017, Cardano built its presence in Africa through its startup programmes, digital identity projects, and government partnerships, including a widely publicised education credentials initiative in Ethiopia. Blockchain companies, as part of their distribution strategy, typically back developers and sometimes provide funding, such as grants, and resources to enable them to build on their networks. Several blockchains build developer ecosystems through ecosystem-building, a community-driven strategy. Others, including Stellar and Sui, have taken a similar approach. Cardano, which has previously supported early-stage crypto startups through accelerators, now wants to perform open-heart surgery on the model itself, restructuring the process that comes before writing cheques. Cardano is placing governance at the centre of its Africa strategy, allowing community members to vote on which ecosystem projects receive funding, how it allocates funding, and which high-potential projects should be prioritised. Other blockchains have invested heavily in ecosystem-building, but Cardano believes giving communities greater influence over decision-making will help it attract and retain builders over the long term. “The gear shift is real, but it’s less about commercial strategy and more about governance maturity,” Alex Maaza, the Ecosystem and Enterprise Growth Lead at the Cardano Foundation, the Swiss-based non-profit entity that oversees the blockchain, said. That thinking is most visible through Project Catalyst, Cardano’s community funding programme. The initiative allows participants to submit proposals and vote on which projects receive funding. According to Maaza, around 150 Africa-related projects have received between $2.5 million and $3 million through Catalyst, spanning agricultural traceability, education, humanitarian coordination, and off-grid energy. Project Catalyst started as a grant programme where community members voted on which projects received funding. Cardano has since expanded that voting system to include decisions about treasury spending and the network’s future development. “We spent years prototyping decentralised decision-making through Project Catalyst,” said Maaza. “Since 2025, that model has evolved into direct on-chain governance, with token holders voting on how to deploy the Cardano treasury.” The move is part of Cardano’s effort to make governance a defining feature of the ecosystem. Cardano Foundation wants developers, entrepreneurs, and community members to decide how treasury funds are spent, which projects receive funding, and how the network develops over time, rather than leaving those decisions to a foundation or a small group of developers. Cardano’s governance model addresses a question that has followed the crypto industry for years: can blockchain networks genuinely distribute decision-making, or does influence ultimately remain concentrated among a small group of participants? Critics argue that voting power in many projects often rests with large token holders, even when governance systems are designed to be community-led. Cardano believes participation can extend beyond token ownership alone. More than 700 developers, founders and community members helped shape Cardano 2030, the network’s long-term roadmap, Maaza said. Who decides where the money goes? Until recently, Project Catalyst was the primary funding mechanism available to startups building on Cardano. According to Maaza, Catalyst funding supported accelerator programmes run by organisations including the SDG Blockchain Accelerator, Draper University, Techstars and CVh Labs. The programmes are managed by those organisations rather than by the Cardano Foundation. The Foundation also launched the first cohort of its own accelerator programme. In total, 70 startups participated in the programmes in 2025, according to Maaza. The ecosystem has also introduced new funding structures, including the Cardano Builder DAO and the Draper Dragon Ecosystem Fund, known as the Orion Fund. In April, the fund launched with a reported $80 million focus on real-world assets and institutional decentralised finance (DeFi). Cardano says this approach is already influencing how it runs programmes in Africa. Maaza pointed to the Cardano Africa Tech Summit (CATS26), held in February, as an example. Rather than operating as a traditional conference, the event brought together more than 500 developers across 12 African cities to build projects and participate in ecosystem activities before culminating in Nairobi. He added that the community funded the programme and gave local builders a greater role in shaping its outcomes. Enterprise adoption remains a major objective “There’s only one blockchain where Africa, or any geography or industry, can genuinely shape the roadmap rather than just receive it,” Maaza said. That view is shaping the Foundation’s engagement with regulators as African governments develop frameworks for digital assets and blockchain businesses. Maaza cited Kenya’s Virtual Asset Service Providers framework as an example of the regulatory clarity many enterprises have been waiting for before making long-term commitments. Cardano still tracks familiar industry metrics such as monthly active users, transaction volumes, and total value locked (TVL). Maaza said another measure matters just as much: whether people building within the ecosystem have a meaningful role in deciding where resources go. “The goal was never to bring Cardano to Africa,” he said. “It’s to build something with Africans that they actually own a piece of.” Cardano has spent years bringing blockchain projects to Africa, but it is now handing part of that process to the people building on the network, a change that will become visible not in governance votes but in the businesses and services that emerge from them. True scale demands moving beyond surface-level integrations to robust execution. We’ve filtered the noise out of Moonshot 2026, optimising the conference strictly for high-calibre connections between startup founders, global financial operators, enterprise leaders and individuals rewiring Africa’s technical frameworks.Get 20% off Early Bird tickets for a limited time.
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