Apple is reportedly increasing its reliance on Samsung for iPhone memory as global RAM prices continue to surge, according to a new report from The Korea Economic Daily.
The shift highlights just how tight the memory market has become, and how Apple is prioritizing reliability over diversification as component costs rise.
Samsung Becomes Apple’s Primary iPhone Memory Supplier
The report claims Samsung will supply around 60 to 70 percent of the low-power DRAM used in the upcoming iPhone 17 lineup. That’s a notable jump from previous generations, where Apple split orders more evenly between Samsung and SK Hynix, with Micron playing a smaller supporting role.
This time around, Apple appears to be leaning heavily on Samsung’s ability to deliver large, consistent volumes of mobile-focused memory, even as prices climb.
Why Apple Has Fewer Options than Before
The iPhone relies on LPDDR memory, which is designed to be energy efficient and thermally stable. While Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron all produce LPDDR at scale, the balance of priorities has shifted across the industry.
SK Hynix and Micron have reportedly redirected significant production capacity toward high-bandwidth memory, which is in massive demand for AI accelerators and data center hardware. That pivot has squeezed the supply of mobile-oriented LPDDR, leaving fewer reliable options for smartphone makers operating at Apple’s scale.
Samsung, by contrast, has maintained substantial production of general-purpose and mobile DRAM. According to industry sources, it is currently the only supplier capable of meeting Apple’s strict volume and consistency requirements under these conditions.
Apple’s Chips are Adding Extra Pressure
Apple’s latest silicon is also complicating the situation. The report notes that Apple’s hardware, including the A19 and A19 Pro chips, is particularly sensitive to voltage fluctuations. That puts added pressure on memory suppliers to deliver modules that perform identically across massive production runs, with little tolerance for variation.
This is where Samsung’s manufacturing consistency likely gives it an edge, even if it means Apple becomes more dependent on a single supplier.
RAM Prices Have Nearly Doubled
The timing is not ideal. A 12GB LPDDR5X module, used in devices like the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air, has reportedly jumped from around $30 at the start of 2025 to roughly $70 today.
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Apple typically shields itself from short-term volatility through long-term supply agreements, but the scale of this increase makes supply stability just as important as pricing. By consolidating orders with Samsung, Apple may be betting that predictable deliveries and economies of scale outweigh the risks of reduced supplier diversity.
What This Means for iPhone Buyers
There’s no immediate indication that iPhone prices will rise directly because of RAM costs, but pressure is clearly building behind the scenes. As AI demand reshapes the semiconductor industry, smartphone components are no longer the top priority they once were.
Apple’s growing dependence on Samsung is less about preference and more about necessity. When memory prices soar and alternatives dry up, even Apple has to play defense.
For now, Samsung looks like the safest bet to keep iPhone production running smoothly, even if it means Apple is putting more of its eggs back into a familiar basket.
