Analysts warn that a memory shortage could limit the production and availability of Apple’s next-generation iPhones, with the most advanced models potentially experiencing delays or reduced shipments amid ongoing component scarcities.
Apple’s next wave of premium iPhones may arrive into an unusually tight supply environment, with analysts and industry reports pointing to a memory shortage that could constrain the iPhone 18 Pro and the rumoured foldable model from the moment they go on sale. According to semiconductor analyst Tim Culpan, Apple and its suppliers are struggling to secure enough memory chips, and that shortage is already creating unfinished chip inventory at TSMC worth about $1 billion while the company waits for the final packaging step.
The pressure is linked to Apple’s A20 Pro processor, which is expected to use TSMC’s N2 process and WMCM packaging. In that design, DRAM is integrated during packaging rather than added later, so memory has to be available earlier in the manufacturing chain. Tom’s Hardware reported that Apple sources DRAM mainly from Micron, with additional supply from SK Hynix and Samsung, but that long-term commitments by other customers are limiting availability. That creates a specific bottleneck for Apple’s next-generation chips and raises the risk of delayed or smaller initial shipments.
The broader supply picture is already visible across Apple’s product range. In late July, Tim Cook said the company was facing “very significant constraints” and limited flexibility in its supply chain. Reports have since pointed to longer delivery times for some MacBook Air configurations and to Apple removing some high-memory Mac Studio options altogether. The company has also raised prices on much of its line-up, with iPhone pricing expected to increase in September. MacRumors has reported that Apple is trying to manage the shortage by trimming configurations and reconsidering launch plans, while JPMorgan analysis cited by the Financial Times suggests memory could account for as much as 45% of an iPhone’s component cost by 2027, up from about 10% now.
For the iPhone 18 family, that means the most advanced models may be the most exposed. Reuters-style reporting is not available here, but multiple industry sources have said the standard iPhone 18 may not appear alongside the Pro models and could instead shift to spring, leaving the September launch window for the iPhone 18 Pro and the foldable device. Ming-Chi Kuo has previously suggested the foldable will ship in limited numbers, and Tom’s Hardware said Apple is also exploring alternative memory suppliers, including China’s CXMT, although that would add regulatory risk given talk in Washington of a possible ban. If the shortage persists, Apple’s launch issue may be less about whether it can announce the devices and more about how many it can actually sell.
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