This week, Apple introduced many new Macs with the M5 chip and presented an interesting trend. More base storage, but at slightly higher prices. This situation has affected the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.

Currently, the M4 versions of Mac mini, Mac Studio, and iMac continue to remain at their old pricing lists; however, this may change with the M5 series.

This Week's Adjustments

With the M5 MacBook Air, Apple raised the base storage from 256GB to 512GB and increased the price by $100.

This is a great situation for many, as you previously had to pay $200 for storage at this level. Essentially, the MacBook Air has become cheaper for those who would have paid extra for 512GB storage before.

A similar price adjustment occurred with the base 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M5. The price increased by $100, but it now comes with 1TB storage as standard. Yes, this is more expensive than the previous base price, but if you previously purchased 1TB storage, it has become more advantageous.

The situation was a bit different with the M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pros. These models came with 1TB storage by default, but the price increased by $200. So, you are actually just paying for additional storage, with no real added value.

What Does the Future Hold?

Apple's desktop series has not yet been overhauled, but we will definitely see similar adjustments in future models. I am surprised it hasn't happened yet, but I don't think it is too far off.

We will see similar price changes with the next versions of Mac mini, iMac, and Mac Studio:

  • iMac: $1299 → $1399 with 512GB new standard
  • Mac mini: $599 → $699 with 512GB new standard
  • Mac Studio: $1999 → at least $2199 with 1TB new standard

I don't have much of an issue with the price adjustment for Mac mini and iMac. 256GB storage is really a ridiculous amount in 2026, so if you are someone who has already paid for more storage, this becomes a better value for you.

On the other side of this argument, I would prefer consumers to pay a little more upfront for 512GB storage; rather than buying 256GB and facing a slow Mac when storage fills up. In this case, macOS cannot rely on swap memory or be forced to quickly upgrade when storage needs change.

The Mac Studio, however, is a bit of a complicated situation. With the M5 Max MacBook Pro, Apple started adding 2TB storage by default, and thus – an M5 Max upgrade has become more expensive than the M4 Max. Therefore, it is thought that the next generation of Mac Studio could be more than $2199.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this is all pure speculation. However, considering the adjustments Apple made to many of its Mac series this week, it seems almost certain for everything that has yet to come. Currently, Apple has not made any adjustments in unified memory pricing despite the RAM crisis, so this situation does not seem to be an urgent concern.

What do you think about Apple charging more for its computers and offering more base storage? Have you always stayed with base storage? Let us know in the comments.

My favorite Apple accessory recommendations:

  • Anker MagSafe/Qi2 Ultra Slim Battery Pack
  • AirPods Pro 3 (2x ANC with AirPods Pro 2!)
  • Anker Nano 45W Fast Charger with Smart Display
  • Anker 3-in-1 Prime 25W MagSafe Charging Stand
  • Logitech MX Master 4 Wireless Mouse
  • Satechi OntheGo 7-in-1 USB-C hub

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