RAM Inflation: Is Apple tweaking its iPhone line-up because of it?
Apple's margin is partly fueled by very expensive RAM upgrades. Analysts are wondering what impact the current price increases will have.
An iPhone Air.
(Image: Sebastian Trepesch / heise medien)
Until now, Apple was considered immune to RAM inflation: Thanks to long-term contracts and bulk purchases, as well as market-leading high memory surcharges, many observers thought that the iPhone manufacturer would get through the crisis relatively easily. The problem: The longer it lasts, the more it affects the Cupertino-based company. In some cases, prices for certain DRAM types have quadrupled within a few months. Analyses are now speculating about how Apple will react. The company is apparently considering a dual strategy.
Pressure on component suppliers
First, observers like Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman consider it unlikely that Apple will fundamentally increase iPhone prices. This means the margin could shrink. This will not please the company's management under CEO Tim Cook, who has once again been able to announce the highest revenues and profits of a Christmas quarter. How much the margins shrink depends on how long the quantities available to Apple will suffice – or rather, are covered by old contracts that date back to before the RAM inflation.
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Apple had recently predicted a gross margin for the overall business of 48 to 49 percent for the current quarter. If RAM becomes pricier, Apple will simultaneously try to reduce costs. The Taiwanese electronics trade publication DigiTimes recently wrote that Apple has initiated another cost-saving round. This means that in areas not affected by RAM inflation, suppliers of other components will have to “compensate.” Whether they will go along with this remains to be seen, but Apple has a lot of power as a large (or the largest) customer.
Pro models and supply chain problems
Furthermore, Apple seems to be tweaking its line-up. This fits with various reports suggesting that Apple will only introduce Pro variants and the first foldable in September this year in September. The standard model of the iPhone 18, however, is expected in spring 2027, when the RAM situation might look completely different again.
According to a report by the Japanese economic agency Nikkei, this should help to better manage supply chain resources. Because RAM is not only expensive – Apple also faces delivery difficulties given the massive demand from AI companies. For example, Apple is no longer TSMC's largest customer.
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