RAM supply holding up iPhone 18 Pro assembly is another bad sign

As the eagerly anticipated iPhone 18 Pro prepares for its launch, a semiconductor shortage could lead to limited inventory. Analyst Tim Culpan warned that a DRAM shortage is hampering production, causing Apple to face potential stock issues after the initial launch. The iPhone 18 Pro will feature Apple's new A20 Pro chip, the first processor utilizing TSMC's cutting-edge 2nm process.

Although chip fabrication is progressing well, TSMC is still awaiting DRAM to package the components using a new Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module technique. This step requires the presence of both the chip and memory on the same wafer, a delay that now amounts to approximately $1 billion in lost revenue. Apple and its partners remain confident of meeting initial demand, but they anticipate a decrease in online orders and potential stock scarcity after the first batch.

Apple has opted to push the launch of a new base iPhone 18 model to spring 2027, while a second-generation iPhone Air is also delayed until the same time. The only other new iPhone debuting alongside the Pro models this fall is the iPhone Ultra, a premium foldable model. Despite Apple's experience handling supply shortages, this shortage appears to be more challenging due to the limited cushion.