Apple iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra: Quickly sold out due to RAM crisis?
The Apple iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and foldable iPhone Ultra may only be available in limited quantities this year, potentially leading to long wait times and an initial sell-out of pre-orders. According to semiconductor analyst Tim Culpan, Apple is struggling to procure enough DRAM to complete production of the new iPhone models. Meanwhile, chipmaker TSMC has a billion dollars’ worth of unpackaged processors awaiting the necessary memory chips.
The new A20 Pro chips for the Apple iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and iPhone Ultra are manufactured using TSMC’s 2nm process and utilize the wafer-level multi-chip module (WLM) package to integrate the processor and DRAM at the wafer level. Unfortunately, this means that TSMC must have the DRAM in stock for assembly and it cannot be added later. Consequently, Apple cannot stockpile finished chips and add the DRAM later when it becomes available.
Apple and its suppliers expect to be able to meet initial demand, but retail stock could quickly run out, potentially leading to longer delivery times. The backlog of chip orders will delay motherboard assembly and final device assembly, which in turn could impact production at Foxconn and other suppliers.
DRAM has been in short supply for months, leading to long waiting times for Mac Studio, Mac mini, and MacBook Air. Memory manufacturers are prioritizing chips for AI data centers, as these are more profitable. As a result, there is hardly any capacity left for the production of chips for consumer devices.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro available before iPhone Ultra
Rumors persist about production difficulties with the iPhone Ultra due to its complex design, and availability of the new foldable model could be even worse than with the Apple iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Some reports suggest the foldable iPhone might be unveiled in September and then launched later, in October or November, while others anticipate a simultaneous release alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max.
The iPhone Ultra will cost up to $2,500, but its novel design and Apple’s new “Apple Upgrade” leasing program could make it more affordable. Apple is also expected to raise prices on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Analysts predict the devices could cost up to $300 more, as Apple offsets the increased cost of memory.
Last year, the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max sold out during the pre-order phase, and delivery times stretched into October. In addition to potential production delays that could impact the supply chain, there won’t be a cheaper iPhone 18 this year, further increasing the pressure on iPhone 18 Pro availability. Apple isn’t planning to launch the standard iPhone 18 until early 2027.
