iPhone 18 Pro Could Face Major Supply Shortages at Launch

Apple is reportedly scrambling to secure enough DRAM for its next-generation iPhones, raising concerns about limited availability and longer delivery times

Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are shaping up to be some of the company’s most exciting smartphones in years. With the new A20 Pro chip, major internal upgrades, and potentially Apple’s first-ever foldable iPhone joining the lineup, expectations around this year’s launch are already extremely high.

But just weeks before the expected September unveiling, Apple may be facing a serious problem that could affect how many iPhone 18 Pro models are actually available to customers.

And surprisingly, the problem isn’t demand. It’s memory.

Apple Could Run Into a Supply Problem

Following an earlier report that Apple is struggling to secure enough DRAM for its upcoming iPhones, a new development suggests the situation could be more serious than initially expected.

Apple could reportedly have limited availability of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max when they launch. So even if Apple officially announces the phones in September, getting one on launch day could be more difficult than usual.

And there’s a very interesting reason behind this.

The A20 Pro Isn’t Reportedly the Problem

According to the latest information, the iPhone 18 Pro models, along with Apple’s first foldable iPhone, potentially called the iPhone Ultra, are expected to use the new A20 Pro processor.

The chip is reportedly being manufactured using TSMC’s cutting-edge N2 process, which could deliver significant improvements in performance and efficiency.

Interestingly, TSMC itself doesn’t appear to be the main problem.

The company has reportedly made good progress with production volumes and manufacturing yields for the new process. In other words, Apple’s chip supplier appears capable of producing the A20 Pro at the scale Apple needs.

The problem reportedly comes later in the manufacturing process.

DRAM Could Become Apple’s Biggest Bottleneck

According to the report, wafers are apparently piling up while waiting for DRAM to be packaged with the chips.

Without the necessary memory, Apple can’t complete the processor packages and ultimately turn them into finished iPhones.

That could create a significant bottleneck at exactly the wrong time.

Apple is reportedly scrambling to secure DRAM from major memory manufacturers, including Micron, SK Hynix, and Samsung. However, the company may also be exploring alternative sources to increase supply.

One of those options could reportedly be Chinese memory manufacturer CXMT.

The fact that Apple is reportedly looking at multiple suppliers highlights how important the DRAM shortage could become. Apple can have TSMC successfully manufacture its latest processor, but if there isn’t enough memory available to complete the package, production of the finished devices can still be held back.

The iPhone 18 Lineup Could Make Things Worse

And this year, Apple may have even less flexibility to deal with the problem.

The base iPhone 18 is rumored to be delayed until early 2027. If that happens, Apple’s main September lineup could consist of the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and potentially its first foldable iPhone.

That could push even more customers toward the Pro models.

Instead of having multiple iPhone 18 models sharing demand at launch, Apple could see an unusually high percentage of buyers targeting the Pro and Pro Max.

If supply is already constrained because of DRAM shortages, that combination could result in longer waiting periods almost immediately.

Apple May Still Meet Initial Demand

There is, however, some good news.

Apple is reportedly confident that it can meet the initial demand for the new Pro models. So this may not necessarily mean that the iPhone 18 Pro will be impossible to purchase at launch.

The bigger concern is what happens after the first wave of sales.

Apple could have enough inventory to get the launch underway, only for online delivery estimates to quickly stretch from days into weeks as orders continue to arrive.

Customers who don’t manage to secure a device early could potentially face significantly longer wait times.

One of Apple’s Biggest iPhone Launches Yet?

And that could make the iPhone 18 Pro launch particularly interesting.

Apple is expected to generate enormous attention around the new models, especially if the A20 Pro delivers a major performance leap and the company finally introduces its long-rumored foldable iPhone.

But while Apple may be preparing some of its biggest hardware upgrades yet, the biggest challenge could ultimately be much simpler: having enough devices ready for everyone who wants one.

If the DRAM supply situation doesn’t improve quickly, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max could become some of the hardest iPhones to get immediately after launch.

And considering how much hype is already building around the iPhone 18 Pro, a supply shortage could make Apple’s next flagship launch even more chaotic than expected.