Microsoft has announced substantial price increases for its Xbox consoles, citing higher memory chip costs as the key reason behind the move. The announcement came just hours after Apple raised prices for its MacBooks and iPads, signaling broader cost pressures across the consumer electronics industry.

The biggest increase is for the Xbox Series X (1TB), which now costs $799, up $150. The Xbox Series X Digital (1TB) has also increased by $150 to $749, while the Xbox Series S (1TB) now carries a price tag of $599, also after a $150 hike. Meanwhile, the 512GB Xbox Series S has become $100 more expensive and now retails for $499.

The higher prices reflect growing costs for advanced memory chips, which have surged amid soaring demand from artificial intelligence infrastructure and data centers. The tighter supply of these components has increased manufacturing costs for hardware makers, with consumers now beginning to feel the impact.

For Pakistan, the latest increases could translate into local retail prices rising by roughly Rs. 50,000 for models that received the full $150 hike, once import duties, taxes, and retailer margins are factored in. The move follows Apple’s recent price increases and suggests that AI-driven component costs are starting to make a wide range of consumer devices more expensive.