Apple tests Chinese DRAM chips amid supply chain tensions and geopolitical risks

Apple is experimenting with Chinese memory maker CXMT’s DRAM chips in China, signalling a shift in sourcing strategy driven by supply shortages and political considerations, with potential implications for US-China tech relations.

Apple is testing DRAM chips from ChangXin Memory Technologies, the Chinese memory maker known as CXMT, in a sign that supply shortages are forcing the iPhone maker to reconsider long-held sourcing limits. According to the Financial Times, the trials are focused on devices sold in China, where Apple is also exploring whether local sourcing could ease pressure on production and pricing.

The move would mark a sharp shift for a company that has generally avoided Chinese memory suppliers because of political and security concerns. Reuters reported that CXMT has been designated by the US Department of Defence as a Chinese military company, placing any potential deal under close scrutiny in Washington. Apple is said to be seeking US government approval and guarantees that buying from CXMT will not trigger later restrictions.

The company’s interest comes as the market for DRAM, the memory used in smartphones, laptops and servers, remains tight. Reuters has reported that Chinese memory makers have gained ground as prices rise and supply stays constrained, while CXMT has become a larger force in global memory production. That has made the supplier more relevant to device makers seeking additional capacity, even as its political status makes it a difficult partner.

For Apple, the calculation appears to be practical rather than strategic. Using CXMT chips in products sold inside China could help stabilise local supply and reduce some costs, but it would also expose the company to fresh regulatory risk at a time when US-China technology ties remain tense. The result is a familiar Apple trade-off: protect supply chains where possible, while trying to avoid a decision that could create a larger problem in Washington.