Apple Cutting Back 2026 Hardware Shipments Due to Memory Shortage

[MacRumors]

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 of memory expected to be available, and it does not have TSMC build large numbers of wafers ahead of time. He believes there are indeed memory shortages, but no situation where TSMC is sitting on unused inventory.

In other words, tight memory supply is real. But my understanding is that there has been no dramatic scenario in which TSMC first built up US$1 billion of WIP and then had to wait for memory to arrive before packaging could proceed. TSMC and Apple are both known for world-class execution, and such a dramatic development would be unusual given how closely the two companies coordinate their supply chains.

Memory shortages have already affected the Mac Studio, Mac mini, and MacBook Air, and it sounds like ongoing supply problems will also impact the upcoming iPhone models. Memory makers have been prioritizing supply for AI data centers because contracts for those chips are more profitable, leaving less capacity available for consumer device chips.

A lack of supply has driven prices up and led to long wait times for some products. Apple raised prices on all of its Macs and iPads in June, and iPhone prices are expected to go up in September.

The iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and foldable iPhone Ultra could be available in limited quantities because of the memory problems, and we expect the devices will sell out during the preorder period.

Article Link: Apple Cutting Back 2026 Hardware Shipments Due to Memory Shortage

 

[jb310]

Memory makers have been prioritizing supply for AI data centers

More than iPhones? I understand the reasoning, but that still sounds crazy to me. 🥲

 

[CharlieBrown-DE]

Shut up and take my money!!!

 

[jz0309]

Kuo said Apple plans processor production at least three months in advance based on the amount of memory expected to be available, and it does not have TSMC build large numbers of wafers ahead of time. He believes there are indeed memory shortages, but no situation where TSMC is sitting on unused inventory.

this guy knows his stuff, unlike most if not all of the other "leakers" that are cited here regularly ...

And, if memory serves, TC said in the last earnings call that memory constraints are a real thing, so, let the supply chain speak for itself, the "analysts" and "reporters" (eg the piper Jeffrey guy today and Gurman) don't have a clue about supply chain

 

[Boil]

The RAM supply needed for products intended for AI data centers seems to be of the HBM variants, not the standard DRAM variants used in consumer products, meaning RAM manufacturers are moving a goodly portion of their production to HBM and not producing the much needed DRAM...

Maybe we will see Apple switching over to variants of HBM in future products...?

 

[WilliApple]

Whos gonna use the data centers?
The consumers
Just give us memory.

 

[svish]

Think that it will simply lead to longer waiting time after placing order for a new Apple device. Also think prices could increase further for Macs.

 

[FattiesGoneWild]

Scalpers are drooling and licking their lips ahead of the 18 Pro/Max launch. It’s 💯 happening with this news.

 

[ab2c4]

I can't wait for all the posts next month "What? My ship date is January? But I pre ordered it as soon as it became available!"

 

[JosephAW]

You know what happens when there’s scarcity? 📱💰💰💰

 

[Phone Junky]

I can't wait for all the posts next month "What? My ship date is January? But I pre ordered it as soon as it became available!"

"You will pay more and wait longer?"

 

[Abydos]

might mean apple's visualization of it's supply and demand curves implies a lower volume equilibrium point and planning production based on that volume

 

[klasma]

if memory serves

That’s a big “if” nowadays though. 😉

Because:

memory constraints are a real thing

 

[Lumenorbit69]

Sounds like upcoming iPhone sales will be in the toilet. They should just shelve the iPhone Air 2 at this point.

 

[JPack]

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.

The columnist Tim Culpan, was always suspect with his reporting. He made up stories like Neo using binned chips and Apple being forced to choose between killing the Neo early or paying TSMC for an expensive hot lot. Good to see Kuo push back on obvious B.S.

 

[Obry]

Whos gonna use the data centers?
The consumers
Just give us memory.

Businesses

 

[Kriss_De_Valnor]

I can smell more price hikes 🙁

 

[Scott6666]

Apple needs to buy a DRAM fab

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

Scalpers are drooling and licking their lips ahead of the 18 Pro/Max launch. It’s 💯 happening with this news.

Not worried. I’ll wait for the backorder. No one NEEDS an iPhone on launch day. Those that find the need to overpay deserve being taken advantage of.

 

[zorinlynx]

This is starting to get downright stupid.

When are regulators going to step in and get this DRAM oligopoly under control?

 

[Dark_Omen]

I can't wait for all the posts next month "What? My ship date is January? But I pre ordered it as soon as it became available!"

They could literally purchase an iPhone 17 Pro and it'll be exactly the same as the iPhone 18 Pro, except that the 17 Pro is available right now. There might be a 1mm thicker body for a 1mm thicker battery and then an A20 chip on the new phone... Whoopty-doo...Not worth waiting 4 months and paying $300 extra for it.

- The same mediocre cameras.
- The same mediocre aluminum design.
- The same lithium battery --- and not Silicon Carbon.
- The same screen with no fingerprint reader.
- The same low-watt charging capabilities.

The real show this September will be the foldable iPhone, but most people won't budget for a phone at that price point anyways.

 

[theorist9]

Apple needs to buy a DRAM fab

That's an appealing idea on the face of it, but I don't believe it will work:

— The companies that own consumer DRAM fabs most likely have existing contracts to supply DRAM to their customers. Thus Apple couldn't buy that plant without taking on those contractual obligations (otherwise the sale would be blocked in court), which defeats the whole purpose of having its own plant.

— Even if that weren't an issue, at current DRAM prices, Apple would need to pay an exorbitant amount to buy an existing DRAM fab, and then it would be saddled with that fab a few years from now when DRAM prices drop.

— Apple doesn't want to be in the DRAM business, since it's more economical to buy DRAM from existing suppliers, who are able to spread the R&D costs for producing each successive generation of DRAM over multiple customers. Apple does not want to pay all of those costs by itself. Even if Apple were willing to do this, it's not clear if they could poach enough expertise from existing DRAM suppliers to keep up with the generational improvements. That's why Apple buys chips from TSMC rather than making chips itself.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Businesses

Businesses use memory in their laptops, desktops and servers too...

 

[MeasterHD]

That's an appealing idea on the face of it, but I don't believe it will work:

— The companies that own consumer DRAM fabs most likely have existing contracts to supply DRAM to their customers. Thus Apple couldn't buy that plant without taking on those contractual obligations (otherwise the sale would be blocked in court), which defeats the whole purpose of having its own plant.

— Even if that weren't an issue, at current DRAM prices, Apple would need to pay an exorbitant amount to buy an existing DRAM fab, and then it would be saddled with that fab a few years from now when DRAM prices drop.

— Apple doesn't want to be in the DRAM business, since it's more economical to buy DRAM from existing suppliers, who are able to spread the R&D costs for producing each successive generation of DRAM over multiple customers. Apple does not want to pay all of those costs by itself. Even if Apple were willing to do this, it's not clear if they could poach enough expertise from existing DRAM suppliers to keep up with the generational improvements. That's why Apple buys chips from TSMC rather than making chips itself.

Yesterday was already too late to think about their own. 700% cumulative increase in just 2 years it’s just beginning and at the moment it’s nowhere nears the end.
Until OpenAI, Antrophic etc get hacked, whacked and hammered by their own famous models.Personally can’t wait for it to happen.

 

[magbarn]

Yesterday was already too late to think about their own. 700% cumulative increase in just 2 years it’s just beginning and at the moment it’s nowhere nears the end.
Until OpenAI, Antrophic etc get hacked, whacked and hammered by their own famous models.Personally can’t wait for it to happen.

Best thing for humanity would if this worthless Ai would just come crashing down so we can move on to the next get rich quick scheme that the billionaires are using.