Engadget: MacBook Pro prices rise on AI data center supply pressure
Engadget compared 2021 and 2026 MacBook Pro prices, linking recent increases to component supply pressure from AI data center expansion.
Engadget published a comparison of 2021 and 2026 MacBook Pro prices, reporting that recent price increases are driven by component supply pressure tied to AI data center expansion.
According to the comparison, the base 14-inch MacBook Pro now starts at $1,999 (3.29 million won in Korea) and the 16-inch M5 Pro model starts at $2,999 (4.99 million won in Korea). After a recent price adjustment, US prices rose by $300 for both models, while Korean prices rose by 600,000 won for the 14-inch and 700,000 won for the 16-inch.
In March 2026, the 14-inch M5 model was priced at $1,699 (2.69 million won) and the 16-inch M5 Pro at $2,699 (4.29 million won), meaning the latest adjustment moved both configurations above their earlier 2026 levels.
Earlier pricing and hardware context
In 2021, the base 14-inch MacBook Pro launched at $1,999 (2.69 million won in Korea) and the 16-inch at $2,499 (3.36 million won), both with M1 Pro chips and an optional M1 Max. That year Apple began its transition to its own silicon, moving away from Intel laptop processors and AMD GPUs. The 2021 base models had 512GB SSDs, while the M5 and M5 Pro models announced in March 2026 start at 1TB.
Quick answers
How much do the current MacBook Pro models cost?
The base 14-inch MacBook Pro starts at $1,999 (3.29 million won in Korea) and the 16-inch M5 Pro model starts at $2,999 (4.99 million won in Korea).
Why did Engadget attribute the price increases to AI data centers?
Engadget attributed the increases to component supply pressure from AI data center expansion.
How much did prices rise in the recent adjustment?
US prices rose by $300 for both models, while Korean prices rose by 600,000 won for the 14-inch and 700,000 won for the 16-inch.