iPhone 18 Pro may be harder to get this year; supply chain issues revealed

Apple's highly anticipated iPhone 18 Pro series, slated for release in September, is reportedly facing a potential supply crunch. While the devices are expected to come with a price increase and the introduction of a foldable iPhone, consumers might find it difficult to secure the new Pro models due to a global shortage of DRAM memory.

Analysts point to the advanced technology within the iPhone 18 Pro series as a key factor. The devices will reportedly utilize TSMC's 2nm A20 Pro chip and incorporate a new Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module (WMCM) packaging technology. This WMCM approach integrates processors and DRAM directly at the wafer level, a process that requires a simultaneous supply of both components.

The primary challenge lies in the current global DRAM supply constraints. This shortage means that even completed processors cannot proceed to the final packaging stage without sufficient DRAM. Consequently, Apple's ability to assemble the new iPhones is being hampered, potentially impacting the initial production volume.

While Apple is expected to have enough inventory to meet initial launch demand, the supply chain issues could lead to a rapid sell-out of the first batch. This may result in significantly longer delivery times for customers who order after the initial launch period, potentially extending beyond previous years' wait times. The DRAM shortage has already affected the delivery times for some of Apple's Mac products.

Compounding the issue, memory manufacturers are reportedly prioritizing production for higher-margin AI data center chips, further squeezing the supply of memory for consumer electronics. There are also unconfirmed reports that Apple might adopt a staggered release strategy, launching the iPhone 18 Pro series first, followed by the foldable iPhone several weeks later.