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Apple's CEO confirmed that even if Apple ends up using Chinese memories on its devices, it won't lead to a reduction in Mac or iPad prices.
(via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)
Despite its best efforts, Apple is not immune to the DRAM and NAND shortages and price hikes. This forced the company to substantially hike the prices of Macs and iPads.
To ease the memory crunch, Apple is considering sourcing memory from Chinese suppliers. But even if that happens, don’t expect the company’s products to become cheaper. The move is about securing a supply of critical components, not cutting prices.
Apple wants more memory suppliersDuring Apple’s Q3 2026 earnings call, outgoing CEO Tim Cook clearly addressed this topic.
“In terms of the sources of supply, you know, primarily the DRAM market has three suppliers, and obviously if there were more suppliers, that would be good, and it would help us on the supply side and perhaps the pricing side,” Cook said. “It’s unclear on the pricing side, but it could help on the supply side, and so, we’re evaluating all options.”
Today, the DRAM market is dominated by Micron, Samsung and SK Hynix. Apple has long relied on these companies for its memory chips, but the recent supply crunch has driven up prices and made sourcing more challenging.
Adding more suppliers would give Apple greater flexibility, reduce its dependence on a handful of companies and help it better manage future shortages.
But that might not affect the cost consumers pay. Given the current global situation, Cook himself acknowledged that any pricing benefit remains uncertain.
Chinese suppliers face political hurdlesIn recent weeks, reports have suggested that Apple is lobbying the U.S. government to source memory chips from Chinese companies ChangXin Memory Technologies and Yangtze Memory Technologies. Apple reportedly would not use the chips in products sold in the United States, limiting them to units sold in China.
While CXMT and YMTC are not banned by the White House, they are on the 1260H list. This means the U.S. government thinks they have ties to the Chinese military.
So, Apple can technically use their chips in its devices without explicit government approval. But that could create reputational risks. Plus, the company could face the ire of President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of legislators called for Apple to nix its plans to buy chips from the companies, saying the move would undermine U.S. national security as well as domestic manufacturing.
To stem the controversy, Apple is pushing for explicit approval from the U.S. government to use Chinese chips in its devices, even if they are not meant for devices sold in the United States.
Securing NAND chips from CXMT and YMTC could help Apple ease supply constraints to some extent and better cater to demand. But it would not lower its product prices.
| # | Наименование новости | Тональность | Информативность | Дата публикации |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apple eyes deals with pair of Chinese chipmakers | 0 | 5 | 02-07-2026 |
| 2 | Apple reportedly tests Chinese memory chips for iPhone and MacBook | 0 | 20 | 10-08-2026 |
| 3 | US confounds Apple’s memory supply challenge | 0 | 11.77 | 17-08-2026 |
| 4 | Why Apple silicon Macs aren’t immune to RAM price hikes | 0 | 5 | 28-06-2026 |
| 5 | U.S. Commerce Secretary warns Apple against buying Chinese memory | 0 | 7.88 | 15-08-2026 |
| 6 | Apple raises Mac, iPad prices — over a shortage it may have caused | -3 | 6 | 26-06-2026 |
| 7 | Apple may struggle to get clearance for Chinese RAM, even for Chinese iPhones | 0 | 5 | 29-06-2026 |
| 8 | Apple testing China’s CXMT memory chips for iPhones and MacBooks: report | 0 | 6.66 | 09-08-2026 |
| 9 | Brutal iPhone 17 price hikes could hit very soon | 0 | 28.46 | 09-08-2026 |
| 10 | How Apple could fix a major Mac Studio memory problem | 0 | 5 | 13-07-2026 |