Apple Scrambling to Secure Memory Ahead of iPhone 18 Pro Launch

Apple and its manufacturing associates are making a frantic effort to secure sufficient mobile DRAM to finish production of the iPhone 18 Pro and its pioneering foldable model, dubbed "iPhone Ultra," according to semiconductor analyst Tim Culpan. With less than six weeks remaining until the anticipated release of the iPhone 18 Pro, assemblers are working in tandem with Apple to expedite DRAM deliveries, as per Culpan's report.

Apple primarily relies on Micron for memory, but also purchases from SK Hynix and Samsung. While Apple and its assemblers remain confident in meeting initial demand, concerns are mounting that online order wait times may extend and retail inventory may deplete rapidly. This year's iPhone lineup is set to debut the "A20 Pro" chip, Apple's inaugural processor built on TSMC's N2 process, which began shipping in volume earlier this year.

Production of these chips is reportedly on track with good volumes and yields; however, completed wafers are accumulating because the necessary DRAM has yet to arrive. As packaging cannot occur without DRAM, Culpan estimates that TSMC currently holds around $1 billion worth of Apple processors at a standstill, potentially impacting the final stages of iPhone production.

This predicament could further strain the production schedules of main logic board assembly and final assembly, which are primarily handled by Foxconn and BYD in China. The DRAM shortage is part of a larger issue as AI infrastructure spending consumes global DRAM supply. Apple CEO Tim Cook addressed the supply chain constraints during the company's earnings call on July 30, revealing that Apple faces "significant constraints with limited flexibility."

In response, Apple raised prices and adjusted production priorities, with Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reporting that Apple is directing buyers towards the MacBook Pro and away from the MacBook Air. Assemblers have been informed that Apple plans to manufacture approximately 200 million units combined across the iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Pro, and iPhone Ultra throughout their lifetimes, with the Ultra accounting for less than 10% of the total.

The remaining units are expected to be evenly distributed between the Pro and standard models. The foldable iPhone is projected to cost over $2,000, making it the priciest iPhone Apple has ever sold. This article, "Apple Scrambling to Secure Memory Ahead of iPhone 18 Pro Launch," originally published on MacRumors.com, invites readers to discuss the topic in the forums.