Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and the foldable ‘iPhone Ultra’ could be in short supply this year and may sell out quickly during preorders because of a DRAM shortage, semiconductor analyst Tim Culpan says.
iPhone 18 Pro and DRAM constraints
TSMC currently has about $1 billion worth of unpackaged A20 Pro processors waiting on memory chips, Culpan says. Apple’s new A20 Pro chips are built on TSMC’s 2nm process and use Wafer‑Level Multi‑Chip Module packaging to integrate the processor and DRAM at wafer level; that requires TSMC to have DRAM on hand for assembly and prevents adding DRAM at a later production step. As a result, Apple cannot stockpile finished dies and add memory later.
Apple and its assemblers expect to meet initial demand, but retail inventory could sell quickly and delivery estimates may be prolonged. The chip backlog will delay main logic board assembly and final device assembly, which could affect Foxconn and other assemblers.
Foldable iPhone Ultra supply and timing
DRAM has been in short supply for months, contributing to long wait times for the Mac Studio, Mac mini and MacBook Air. Memory manufacturers are prioritizing chips for AI data centers because those chips are more profitable, leaving less capacity for consumer devices. Ongoing rumors point to manufacturing challenges with the foldable ‘iPhone Ultra’ due to its complex design, and supplies of the foldable could be the most limited of the three iPhone models.
Some reports say the foldable iPhone could be introduced in September and then launch in October or November, while others say it will be available at the same time as the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max.
Pricing pressures and launch implications
The iPhone Ultra is expected to cost as much as $2,500. Apple is also expected to raise prices for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, with analysts saying the devices could be up to $300 more expensive because Apple is paying more for RAM. Last year the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max sold out during preorder and shipping times stretched into October. With no lower‑cost iPhone 18 planned this year—Apple does not plan to launch the standard iPhone 18 until early 2027—pressure on iPhone 18 Pro supplies could increase.
If you plan to buy one of the new iPhone models at launch, preordering as soon as sales open is recommended to maximize the chance of receiving the device on launch day.
