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A production snag could leave the iPhone 18 Pro in short supply
A DRAM shortage is threatening to constrain iPhone 18 Pro availability, despite strong production of Apple's proprietary A20 Pro chip.
What: TSMC cannot complete final packaging of the A20 Pro chips without specific memory components, likely leading to shipping delays for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra.
Why it matters: This bottleneck demonstrates how highly optimized, vertically integrated hardware supply chains are still vulnerable to secondary component shortages, especially as Apple moves toward high-end, premium-only lineups.
Decoder
- DRAM: Dynamic Random Access Memory, a type of high-speed memory used in consumer electronics to store data currently in use by the processor.
Original article
A reported DRAM shortage could limit iPhone 18 Pro availability at launch, despite strong production of Apple's new A20 Pro chip, as TSMC is unable to complete final packaging without the required memory components. Apple is expected to have enough inventory for the initial release, but online delivery times may slip and retail stock could sell out quickly after the first wave. The shortage could be amplified because Apple reportedly isn't launching a standard iPhone 18 or a new iPhone Air this fall, leaving the iPhone 18 Pro lineup and the premium foldable iPhone Ultra as the main new options for buyers.
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