The upcoming iPhone 18 Pro may experience supply constraints due to shortages in DRAM memory chips and packaging delays, risking a delayed or limited launch in September according to industry reports.
Apple may enter the iPhone 18 Pro launch period with an unusually tight supply of memory chips, creating a risk that early demand outstrips available stock, according to reporting from Macworld and supply-chain commentary cited by other publications. The issue centres on DRAM, the memory used alongside Apple’s next-generation processors, and on packaging delays that could slow final assembly even if chip production itself is on track.
Tim Culpan, a former Bloomberg correspondent who writes on supply chains, said on his Substack that Apple is trying to secure enough DRAM for the iPhone 18 Pro and a higher-end model widely referred to as the iPhone Ultra. He said processor wafers are effectively ready and waiting for packaging, which suggests Apple’s bottleneck is memory rather than silicon. If that supply is restored quickly, the company should still be able to push devices to retail in time for the usual autumn launch window.
Tom’s Hardware reported that roughly $1 billion worth of processor wafers may be sitting idle while Apple and its manufacturing partners wait for sufficient memory modules. The report said the issue affects the A20 Pro chip, which is expected to use TSMC’s N2 process and a newer Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module packaging method. It also noted that Apple sources much of its DRAM from Micron, with additional supply from SK Hynix and Samsung, but that long-term commitments to other customers have limited immediate availability.
Earlier reports from MacRumors suggested the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and a foldable model sometimes called the iPhone Ultra are expected to carry 12GB of RAM, matching the iPhone 17 Pro line. MacRumors also reported that Apple is preparing a September launch, with shipments likely to begin late in the month. That leaves Apple with a narrow window to clear any memory-related constraint before consumers start placing orders, especially if the company’s premium models see stronger initial demand than expected.
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