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Apple Store External Drive Prices Soar as Inventory Dries Up

Vendor shifts toward lucrative AI data‑center contracts are pushing up retail storage prices across major stores.

Overview

  • Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports Apple recently updated pricing on several third‑party external SSDs, with many models now far more expensive.
  • A SanDisk 4TB portable SSD sold through Apple jumped from about $500 to $1,200, and the 1TB version rose from $120 to $360.
  • Online listings at Apple are largely sold out, with limited units available in physical stores at the higher prices.
  • Vendors set prices for these third‑party accessories, limiting Apple’s ability to counter increases as suppliers reallocate flash supply to enterprise buyers.
  • Similar shortages and price hikes are visible at Amazon and Best Buy, and recent Mac price adjustments underscore broader cost pressure tied to AI‑driven demand for memory and storage.