Updated
Updated · Business Insider · Jul 9
Used Tech Sales Jump 62% After Apple Lifts Mac and iPad Prices Up to 25%
Updated
Updated · Business Insider · Jul 9

Used Tech Sales Jump 62% After Apple Lifts Mac and iPad Prices Up to 25%

3 articles · Updated · Business Insider · Jul 9

Summary

  • Back Market said MacBook sales jumped 62% the day after Apple raised some Mac and iPad prices by 20% and 25%, with purchases skewing toward new customers.
  • Those gains follow a broader rise in new-device costs tied to memory-chip shortages from the AI buildout: MacBook Pros rose by $300, Surface PCs cost up to $500 more than two years ago, and Xbox prices are set to climb about $150.
  • Demand is spreading beyond phones: PayMore said sales of used computers and parts rose 30% over the past three to six months as shoppers focus more on affordability than cosmetic flaws.
  • Industry data show the shift widening, with pre-owned smartphone sales up 13% in the first half of 2026 while new smartphone shipments are forecast to fall 12% this year.
  • The resale boom is also being helped by weaker appetite for AI-driven upgrades, as many consumers see little added value in newer devices and some younger buyers are leaning into lower-tech alternatives.

Insights

As the AI boom consumes the world’s memory chips, is personal tech destined to become a luxury good once more?
With new laws empowering consumers to fix their devices, is the era of the annual gadget upgrade finally over?
How will tech giants adapt as the profitable upgrade cycle is disrupted by repair laws and consumer thrift?