Apple is reportedly pushing the US government for permission to purchase memory chips from Chinese manufacturer ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
The move comes after Samsung raised DRAM prices by 100% earlier this year, a hike Apple reportedly accepted without negotiation.
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Kuo warned that the situation is evolving into a real supply crunch that could persist through 2027.
Lenovo has also cautioned that higher prices may become the "new normal."
In a post on X, Kuo stated that Apple is actively trying to keep CXMT off the US Entity List so it can potentially buy DRAM chips from the company.
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CXMT is China's largest DRAM maker but is reportedly on the Pentagon's blacklist due to alleged military ties, making any business politically sensitive.
Kuo predicts that 15-20% of memory production allocated to consumer electronics in 2026 could shift toward data centers and AI infrastructure in 2027.
This reallocation is already affecting LPDDR memory supplies critical for mobile devices.
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As a result, Apple's orders for the upcoming A20 chip might be 10-20% lower than originally planned for late 2026 and early 2027.
DRAM and NAND prices have already surged, and Apple CEO Tim Cook has publicly acknowledged the sharp cost increases.
Adding CXMT as a supplier likely won't fully solve the problem due to its limited production capacity, but it would help Apple diversify sources and reduce risk, especially as Apple Intelligence demands more memory.
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Whether the US government will approve the request remains uncertain, but the situation highlights vulnerabilities that could affect phone pricing, availability, and innovation.
