The price of RAM has been rising steadily for several months as major memory manufacturers focus their production lines on chips dedicated to artificial intelligence, leaving much less stock available for other devices that need RAM to function, such as smartphones or computers.
Tim Cook also recognized at the end of January that this increase would weigh on Apple’s margins in the second quarter, while ensuring that he had “several levers” to limit the damage. Korean media Dealsite reveals today thatApple organized emergency meetings with Samsung to secure the RAM necessary for the production of the iPhone 17, and the Apple firm made a decision that was surprising to say the least.
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An agreement concluded without the slightest discussion
According to Dealsite industry sources, Apple recently met with Samsung’s semiconductor division to secure its RAM volumes in the first half of 2026. Samsung had initially planned to request a 60% increase in the price of its LPDDR5X memory chips, which are found in both iPhones and recent MacBooks. The Korean manufacturer, however, decided to open negotiations even higher, with a 100% increase, as a negotiating tactic.
© Unsplash / Chris Liverani
The Apple firm accepted this price immediatelywithout even trying to lower it. A 12 GB RAM chip that cost around $30 at the start of 2025 is in fact trading today at around $70, and forecasts are for a price higher than $100, or even $120, before the end of 2026. By locking in its orders now, Apple is certainly paying twice as much as a year ago, but probably much less than what it expects if it postpones its purchases.
A calculated bet to protect the price of iPhones
This rapid decision could also explain why the price of the iPhone 18 Pro is not expected to increase next September, as analyst Jeff Pu of GF Securities announced two weeks ago. Apple prefers to absorb the current increase rather than pass it on to the final price of its devices, especially since the situation will not improve in the short term. You should therefore not have to pay more than the current price of the iPhone 17 Pro, for an 18 Pro when it is released.
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The shortage also affects Samsung as a smartphone manufacturer. The same report indicates that initial production of the Galaxy S26 is based on a 50/50 split between Samsung’s RAM and that of Micron, another supplier that is also planning significant increases. Samsung is also considering increasing the price of the Galaxy S26, while Apple is making the opposite choice to maintain its prices, even if it means temporarily cutting into its margins.
By: Keleops AG
