Apple is facing growing pressure from the ongoing global DRAM shortage, and the impact may surface as early as the iPhone 17 lineup. A new report indicates that memory costs have risen sharply, threatening Apple’s ability to absorb higher component prices without affecting margins.
According to the report, the cost of 12GB LPDDR5X memory used in the iPhone 17 Pro models has jumped from roughly $25–$29 per unit to about $70. This represents an increase of more than 230%, a scale of cost escalation that would strain even large manufacturers.
Apple typically shields itself from such volatility through long-term supply agreements that lock in pricing. However, DRAM appears to be an exception this time, with current market conditions limiting Apple’s ability to avoid higher costs.
Apple’s existing DRAM supply contracts with SK Hynix and Samsung are rumored to expire in January 2026. Once those agreements end, Apple will need to renegotiate pricing at a time when DRAM costs remain elevated, making a return to previous price levels unlikely.
While Apple is still in a relatively strong position in the near term, reports suggest the company is already considering countermeasures as its cost buffer begins to shrink.
The situation is compounded by broader industry trends. SK Hynix and Micron are reportedly reducing LPDDR memory output to prioritize high-margin HBM products, which are in heavy demand for AI accelerators and data centers. As a result, Apple could become increasingly dependent on Samsung for memory supply in the iPhone 18 series.
Such reliance would weaken Apple’s negotiating leverage. At the same time, the iPhone 18 lineup is rumored to adopt six-channel LPDDR5X memory to improve bandwidth and AI performance, further increasing total DRAM requirements.
If DRAM prices remain near current levels, Apple may eventually be forced to pass some of the increased costs on to consumers. With memory becoming increasingly expensive and future iPhones expected to require even more of it, sustained price pressure appears to be difficult to avoid.