Semiconductor industry analyst Tim Culpan said Apple is having difficulty ensuring the supply of DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) memory chips to produce new iPhone models.
According to Mr. Culpan, TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) - Apple's largest chip manufacturing partner, currently has about 1 billion USD worth of processors waiting to be installed with memory chips before completion.
The reason comes from the new design of the A20 Pro chip, which is manufactured on a 2 nm process and uses Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module (WMCM) packaging technology. This technology integrates the processor and DRAM memory chip right from the packaging stage on the semiconductor wafer plate, instead of adding memory in the following stages. This means TSMC must have a DRAM memory chip available immediately when assembling the processor.
Sources say Apple and assembly partners can still meet demand in the first sale. However, retail sales may quickly run out, leading to longer delivery times. The lack of memory chips may also slow down the motherboard assembly process and affect production operations at Foxconn and other partners.
DRAM supply has been scarce for months as memory manufacturers prioritize supplying chips to AI data centers, which are more profitable than the consumer device market. This also extended delivery times for some products such as Mac Studio, Mac mini and MacBook Air.
In addition, rumors of difficulties in the production of the folding screen iPhone Ultra continue to appear. Due to its complex design, this model is said to have the most limited supply in the new iPhone line. Some sources say that the device will be launched in September and launched in October or November, while other sources say that the device will be sold at the same time as the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
According to analysts, iPhone Ultra may be priced up to $2,500, while iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are also forecast to increase in price by about $300 due to increased DRAM memory chip costs.
In the context that Apple is said to have no plans to launch the standard iPhone 18 until early 2027, supply pressure on high-end iPhone models may be even greater in the early stages of opening sales.
