With memory chipmakers prioritizing AI data centers over smartphones, Apple is struggling to secure DRAM without paying a premium. The company has already raised prices on Macs, iPads, and the Vision Pro, and the current-gen iPhones could be next. The upcoming iPhone 18 Pro could be a staggering $300 more expensive. The company is leaving no stone unturned to soften the blow.
Trying to get CXMT on the roster
CXMT is considered a threat by the US government. | Image by U.S. Department of War
Apple has started testing memory chips from Chinese company ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) across iPhones and MacBooks, perThe Wall Street Journal.
The company aims to use CXMT's components for products meant for the Chinese market. Apple currently sources memory from Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron Technology.
While bringing CXMT into the fold would ease the supply bottleneck, Apple doesn't want to proceed without the US government's approval.
Apple can't legally order specialized chips from CXMT, as that would require communicating specifications, which is barred by federal rules. It can use off-the-shelf components, but that may require it to redesign certain parts of the iPhone.
Do you hope the iPhone 18 Pro uses CXMT chips?
Not the best solution
Without customizations, Apple can't optimize CXMT's chips for peak performance. That would be a notable compromise, considering CXMT already lags behind rivals due to restricted access to cutting-edge chip-making equipment.
US officials have previously warned Apple against using Chinese chips, claiming that doing so would allow its adversary to gain access to American trade secrets.
Even if Apple ends up convincing regulators, CXMT won't solve its immediate woes. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra are too far along in development to use CXMT chips. CXMT's production lines are booked out for the rest of the year anyway.
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CXMT chips are also not cheaper and often sell for the same or a higher price than Micron, SK Hynix, and Samsung components.
Even if the iPhone 18 Pro can't use CXMT chips, upcoming products such as the standard iPhone 18 models will still need a stable supply of chips.
CXMT is the world's fastest-growing DRAM supplier, and it won't be long before it's in the same league as Micron, SK Hynix, and Samsung.
Glimmer of hope
Apple has previously argued that tapping Chinese suppliers CXMT and Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. (YMTC) could keep product prices down. Both companies have been designated as Chinese military companies by the US government.
Back in 2022, Apple collaborated with YMTC to help it meet its standards. The move was sharply criticized when it was made public.
Though Chinese chips will only be used for China-bound variants, this would still make Apple dependent on the country.
Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.
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