iPhone 18 Pro and foldable iPhones may sell out due to memory chip shortages.
The supply of DRAM memory is reportedly becoming a "bottleneck" in the production of the iPhone 18 Pro and foldable iPhone, raising the risk of shortages shortly after launch.
The iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and Apple's first foldable iPhone (rumored to be called the iPhone Ultra) may face shortages upon release due to insufficient DRAM chip supply to meet production demand.
According to semiconductor industry analyst Tim Culpan, Apple is struggling to secure sufficient DRAM supply to complete its next-generation iPhone models. Meanwhile, its chip manufacturing partner TSMC is reportedly facing delays in completing processor orders worth approximately $1 billion due to memory chip shortages.
The shortage of DRAM has brought production to a standstill.
The A20 Pro chip in the iPhone 18 Pro is manufactured using TSMC's 2nm process and employs Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module (WMCM) packaging technology, where the processor and DRAM memory chips are integrated directly onto a semiconductor wafer before being cut into individual chips.
This design improves performance and reduces size, but also makes the manufacturing process dependent on a DRAM supply from the outset.
This means TSMC must have memory chips readily available during the manufacturing process and cannot add DRAM at later stages.
Therefore, Apple cannot manufacture processors in advance and then wait until it has enough DRAM to complete the product, leaving the entire production line dependent on the memory chip supply.
Apple and its assembly partners are reportedly still able to meet demand during the initial launch phase.
However, the supply of devices at retail outlets can quickly run out, leading to extended delivery times.
The DRAM shortage could also slow down motherboard production and device assembly at Foxconn's factories and many of its partners.
According to reports, the DRAM shortage has lasted for months and has affected the supply of Mac Studio, Mac mini, and MacBook Air models.
The reason is that memory manufacturers are prioritizing supplying DRAM to AI servers and data centers, which offer significantly higher profit margins compared to the consumer electronics market.
This has led to a continued contraction in the supply of memory chips for smartphones.
Foldable iPhones may be the hardest model to buy.
Besides the DRAM shortage issue, many previous reports also indicated that Apple faced numerous challenges in the production of foldable iPhones due to their complex design.
Therefore, this is predicted to be the iPhone model with the most limited supply this year.
Some reports suggest that Apple will unveil the device in September but it won't officially go on sale until October or November. However, there is also information suggesting that the product will be available at the same time as the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
The selling price is expected to increase sharply.
According to sources in the supply chain, the iPhone Ultra could cost up to $2,500.
Nevertheless, the completely new foldable screen design, along with the Apple Upgrade program, is expected to encourage many users to upgrade.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are also predicted to see price increases. Analysts suggest the selling price could be around $300 higher than the previous generation, primarily due to increased DRAM costs.
Users should pre-order if they want to receive the device early.
Last year, the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max all sold out during the pre-order period, forcing many customers to wait until October to receive their devices.
If component shortages continue this year, the supply of the iPhone 18 Pro line could become even more strained, especially since Apple is reportedly not launching the standard iPhone 18 version in 2026, but rather in early 2027.
Therefore, if you want to own the new iPhone models right from the first sales launch in September, users should pre-order as soon as Apple officially opens the program to increase their chances of receiving the device on the release date.