Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and foldable iPhone could sell out earlier than usual, says semiconductor analyst Tim Culpan.
Culpan says Apple is having trouble getting enough DRAM to finish production of the new iPhone models, with chip supplier TSMC holding on to $1 billion worth of unpackaged processors that need memory chips.
Apple’s new A20 Pro chips, built on TSMC’s 2nm process, use Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module packaging to integrate the processor and DRAM at the wafer level. While this improves performance, it also means TSMC’s production of the A20 Pro chips is on hold as the DRAM cannot be aded at a later step.
While Apple and its assembly partners believe they will be able to meet initial demand, if inventory sells through quickly, we could see extended delivery estimates. DRAM shortages have already caused delays for Apple’s Mac lineup leading to long wait times for the Mac mini, Mac Studio, and MacBook Air.
The DRAM shortages are due to companies that make memory prioritizing chip production for AI data centers. The chips used for AI data centers are more profitable, meaning the capacity available for manufacturing chips for consumer devices is lower than ever.
If you’re planning to get your hands on one of the new iPhone models in September, you’ll want to pre-order as soon as the devices become available for purchase for any chance of scoring one on launch day.