The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear Apple's appeal of a contempt ruling tied to its long-running antitrust battle with Epic Games. The dispute centers on Apple's compliance with a 2021 injunction requiring the company to allow developers to link to alternative payment systems. At issue is Apple's policy of imposing a 27% fee on purchases made through those external links, compared to its standard 30% App Store commission.

The case stems from Epic Games' 2020 lawsuit challenging Apple's control over iOS in-app payments. While Apple largely won the underlying case, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers found the company in civil contempt for failing to fully comply with the order to allow external payment options. An appeals court upheld the contempt ruling, leading to the current Supreme Court review.

Apple denies violating the injunction and argues the order should not extend beyond Epic Games. The company has asked the court to pause enforcement of the contempt label, calling it "erroneous and prejudicial" while the appeal is considered. Apple stated in court filings that global regulators are closely watching the case as they weigh app store commission structures in other major markets.

Epic Games contends that the 27% fee structure on external links still violates the injunction. A spokesperson for Epic Games stated that lower courts have rightly found Apple's fees to be illegal and anticompetitive. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney has urged regulators in the EU, U.K., and other jurisdictions to take stronger action, arguing the case could redefine digital marketplace fees beyond the U.S.

Oral arguments are expected in the Supreme Court's next term starting in October. The outcome of the case could have significant implications for how digital marketplaces handle payment processing and commission structures globally.

Apple has raised prices across the entire MacBook lineup, a move that market research firm TrendForce states is reshaping expectations for the notebook industry in 2026. This price adjustment comes as premium brands pass rising costs to consumers, reinforcing expectations of higher notebook prices and making consumers more cautious about upgrading their devices. The shift in pricing strategy adds uncertainty to consumer demand, which is already showing signs of weakening globally.

TrendForce forecasts that global notebook shipments will decline by 13.6% in 2026. This projection accounts for stronger-than-expected first-half shipments driven by improved component supply, contrasted with weaker second-half demand and rising end-market prices. Specifically, Apple is projected to ship approximately 23.1 million notebooks in 2026. While first-half shipments exceeded expectations due to stable pricing and the strong launch of the MacBook Neo, momentum is expected to moderate in the second half as price increases reach end markets.

Market Drivers and Constraints

The industry faces two primary challenges that are influencing these trends. First, sustained demand for AI servers is diverting semiconductor supply chain resources away from consumer electronics. Prices for memory, power management ICs, and key raw materials such as gold and copper remain elevated, maintaining pressure on notebook manufacturing costs. Although CPU supply in mainstream price segments improved steadily during the second quarter, enabling brands to accelerate procurement, the broader supply constraints persist.

Second, consumers are becoming increasingly resistant to higher notebook prices. TrendForce notes that higher MacBook prices may narrow the price overlap between MacBooks and certain premium Windows notebooks, potentially encouraging some price-sensitive consumers to switch. However, this spillover effect is expected to be limited and unlikely to become a meaningful driver of broader market recovery given the overall rise in prices and weakening demand.

Apple’s Position and Outlook

Despite the broader market decline, Apple’s performance is projected to stay relatively stable throughout the year. The ongoing adoption of Apple Silicon is encouraging existing users to upgrade, and the robust macOS ecosystem—along with Apple’s seamless cross-device integration—helps maintain underlying demand. However, TrendForce warns that if retail prices increase more than anticipated and significantly reduce consumer demand, Apple’s shipment forecast might need further downward adjustment.

Consumers are also beginning to extend their notebook replacement cycles. While demand from commercial PC upgrades and education-sector procurement projects remains relatively stable, it is insufficient to fully offset the slowdown in the consumer market. Notebook brands will face their greatest challenge in balancing cost pass-through with maintaining end-market demand against this backdrop of constrained supply and slowing demand.