As Apple prepares to introduce the iPhone 18 Pro, a global shortage of memory chips threatens to complicate production and impact pricing, with suppliers scrambling for capacity amid industry-wide component shortages.
Apple is preparing to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro models next month, with an announcement date possibly coming by the end of August, but the launch is now being shadowed by a shortage of memory chips that could complicate production. Semiconductor analyst Tim Culpan said Apple and its manufacturing partners are working to secure enough DRAM, the short-term memory used in smartphones to keep processors running efficiently, before the devices reach mass production. According to the report from Mashable, the pressure extends to Apple’s expected foldable iPhone as well.
The bottleneck appears to centre on chips already made but not yet ready for final assembly. Tom’s Hardware reported that Apple has roughly $1 billion worth of processor wafers waiting for packaging because the company cannot obtain enough memory components to complete the final manufacturing stages. That affects the A20 Pro chip, which is expected to power the iPhone 18 Pro range and is said to be built on TSMC’s advanced 2-nanometre N2 process. The same report said Apple sources DRAM mainly from Micron, with additional supply from SK Hynix and Samsung, but that long-term commitments to other customers have made it harder to secure capacity.
Despite the strain, Apple and its suppliers are still believed to have enough inventory for the first wave of demand. Tom’s Hardware said the risk is more likely to show up after launch, when online delivery times could lengthen and retail shelves could empty faster than usual. Reuters has previously reported that Apple has been grappling with broader supply-chain constraints, and Tim Cook has acknowledged what he called “some very significant constraints currently, with limited flexibility in the supply chain.” The shortage is also feeding speculation that the iPhone 18 Pro could cost more, with The Wall Street Journal analysing the pricing pressure and MacRumors reporting estimates that the Pro model could start at as much as $1,399.
The memory squeeze is not limited to the iPhone. MacRumors reported that Apple is under pressure across several product lines as cloud companies and chip makers compete for the same DRAM supply, pushing up costs for consumer electronics makers. The publication also said Apple has explored alternative suppliers, including ChangXin Memory Technologies, or CXMT, though PhoneArena reported that technical limits would prevent CXMT chips from fitting the iPhone 18 Pro’s proposed Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module design. That suggests Apple’s next flagships may arrive into a tighter and more expensive component market, leaving the company to balance launch supply, pricing and margins at the same time.
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