MacBook Pro 2026 vs 2021: prices up $300–500 on memory shortage

Engadget compared entry-level MacBook Pro prices from 2021 and 2026. Amid the memory shortage and rising component costs, the 14-inch M5 model rose from $1,699 to $1,999, while the 16-inch M5 Pro went from $2,699 to $2,999.

• 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5: $1,999, up from $1,699 before the hike
• 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro: $2,999, up from $2,699
• Adjusted for inflation, the 2021 14-inch model would cost $2,467 in 2026
• Apple raised prices as AI data centers squeeze memory, storage and GPU supply