Apple Cutting Back 2026 Hardware Shipments Due to Memory Shortage
Apple is scaling back its hardware shipment plans in 2026 due to DRAM shortages, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today . Kuo made the comment in a longer piece disputing a recent report suggesting TSMC has $1 billion of unpackaged processors waiting on memory chips that Apple has been unable to secure. Kuo said Apple plans processor production at least three months in advance based on the amount…
Apple is reducing its hardware shipments for 2026 due to a shortage of DRAM memory chips, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a recent report, Kuo addressed a claim that TSMC holds $1 billion worth of wafers waiting for memory, which he finds unlikely. Apple's production planning involves forecasting processor needs three months in advance, based on anticipated memory availability. While memory shortages are evident, Kuo does not believe there are scenarios where TSMC has excess inventory waiting to be packaged.
The Mac Studio, Mac mini, and MacBook Air have already experienced supply issues, and these ongoing challenges are expected to affect upcoming iPhone models as well. Memory manufacturers have been focusing on AI data centers due to more lucrative contracts, leaving fewer resources for consumer device chips. Consequently, memory prices have risen, causing long wait times for various products. In response, Apple increased prices on its Macs and iPads in June, and iPhone prices are anticipated to rise in September.
The iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and foldable iPhone Ultra might be released in limited quantities due to memory constraints, potentially leading to sellouts during the preorder period.
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