Apple may scale back its hardware shipments in 2026 as the global memory shortage puts additional pressure on its supply chain. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says tight DRAM supply is already affecting Apple’s planning and could create further constraints for upcoming devices.
The shortage is being driven in part by strong demand from AI data centers, which are competing with consumer electronics companies for memory supply. With less capacity available for smartphones and Macs, Apple could face both higher component costs and tighter availability for some of its upcoming hardware.
Memory Shortage Is Affecting Apple’s Hardware Plans
Kuo made the comments while pushing back against a recent report claiming that TSMC has around $1 billion worth of unfinished processors waiting for memory chips that Apple has been unable to secure.
According to Kuo, Apple does not typically have TSMC build large quantities of processors months ahead without accounting for available memory. Apple plans processor production at least three months in advance based on the amount of memory it expects to have access to.
That means Kuo does not believe TSMC is sitting on a huge stockpile of completed processors simply waiting for memory to become available. However, he agrees that the underlying memory shortage is real.
The shortage is already having an impact on Apple’s hardware business. Memory supply constraints have affected products including the Mac Studio, Mac mini and MacBook Air, while the problem could become more significant as Apple prepares its next generation of iPhones.
Memory manufacturers are prioritizing AI infrastructure because data-center customers can be more profitable than consumer electronics orders. That has left less manufacturing capacity available for the memory chips used in smartphones, computers and other consumer devices.
The result is a combination of higher prices and tighter supply, both of which could affect Apple’s hardware lineup.
iPhone 18 Could Face Supply Constraints
The timing is particularly important because Apple is preparing to launch several major products later this year.
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to arrive alongside Apple’s first foldable iPhone, often referred to as the iPhone Ultra. Those devices could face limited availability if Apple cannot secure enough memory to meet launch demand.
Kuo’s comments also come after Apple raised prices across its Mac and iPad lineup in June. Higher memory costs are one of the factors putting pressure on consumer electronics manufacturers, and iPhone prices could follow a similar path.
A recent rumor has already suggested that Apple could raise iPhone 17 prices before the iPhone 18 generation arrives. If memory costs continue rising, Apple could have even more reason to adjust pricing across its upcoming lineup.
Supply constraints could also make the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra harder to find at launch. Apple typically sees strong demand during the initial preorder period, and limited inventory could result in longer shipping estimates or early sellouts.
For now, Apple has not announced any shipment cuts or confirmed that the iPhone 18 lineup will face shortages. Kuo’s comments indicate that Apple is adjusting its plans in response to the memory market, but the extent of the impact remains unclear.
The memory shortage is likely to remain an important factor for Apple’s hardware business through the rest of 2026, particularly as demand for AI infrastructure continues to compete with consumer devices for memory production capacity.
