Published: June 28, 2026 | TrenBuzz.com
Key Points – Congress Should Break Up Apple
- AOC publicly called on Congress to break up Apple and other major tech companies on June 27, 2026
- Apple raised MacBook and iPad prices by up to $300 on June 25, 2026 due to an AI-driven chip crisis
- DRAM memory prices surged 98% in Q1 2026 as AI data centers consumed global chip supply
- MacBook Neo rose from $599 to $699, MacBook Pro jumped from $1,699 to $1,999
- Microsoft also raised Xbox prices, with analysts warning iPhone price hikes could follow by late 2026
- Apple shares fell over 6% after the price announcement, their worst single-day drop in recent memory
One of America’s most outspoken lawmakers just put the biggest tech company on Earth in her crosshairs.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said she believes Congress should look to break up companies like Apple amid news that the tech giant might soon raise its prices on phones and laptops due to a strained processing chip supply chain, stating: “We need to break up a lot of these companies that are far, far too big and we need to be instituting consumer protections for people.”
Why AOC Says Congress Should Break Up Apple Right Now
The AOC Congress break up Apple call did not come out of nowhere. Apple hiked prices on some of its most popular products including the MacBook and iPad because of rising costs of memory and storage chips sparked by the AI boom, with the entry-level MacBook Neo now priced at $699 up from $599 and the cheapest iPad rising from $349 to $449.
Apple itself admitted this was unprecedented. Apple said in a statement: “We have never seen a component price increase this much, this quickly. We have shielded our customers from these increases so far, but we have now reached a point where we need to begin raising prices.”
The root cause is AI eating the world’s chip supply. Prices for dynamic random access memory rose as much as 98% in the first quarter of 2026 according to industry tracker TrendForce and are projected to climb another 58 to 63% in the current quarter, driven by AI data center construction with companies like Nvidia signing long-term capacity deals with memory makers.
Microsoft felt the same heat. Hours after Apple’s announcement, Microsoft said it would increase prices of its Xbox consoles starting August 1, citing memory and storage prices that have more than doubled and which it expects to double again by fall 2027.
What Are the Implications of Apple Price Increases and the AOC Proposal
The implications are massive for everyday consumers. IDC analyst Nabila Popal warned that iPhone price hikes could follow later in 2026, potentially reaching as much as $200 for the iPhone Pro and Pro Max models, saying: “I think the days of $50 price increases are over.”
AOC also pushed for Congress to go beyond the CHIPS Act and address the energy strain that AI data centers are placing on local communities, saying lawmakers need to tackle the cost of the AI race at a community level.
The tech world is now at a turning point. AI is making chips expensive, Apple is passing costs to consumers, and Congress is being told by its most progressive voices that the era of unchecked Big Tech must end.
Your next iPhone might cost you a whole lot more. And Washington is finally being asked to do something about it.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. TrenBuzz.com does not endorse any political figure, company, or product. All pricing data and political statements are based on publicly available reporting as of June 28, 2026. Readers are encouraged to verify details through official and credible sources.