The global memory chip market has witnessed a dramatic price hike, compelling Apple to ramp up its dependence on Samsung Electronics as the key supplier of low - power DRAM for its upcoming iPhone 17 series. It's projected that Samsung will account for roughly 60% to 70% of the LPDDR memory supply for the iPhone 17.

This strategic shift occurs as SK Hynix and Micron are reallocating a significant chunk of their production capacity to High - Bandwidth Memory (HBM). This move has led to a constrained LPDDR production capacity. In contrast, Samsung stands out as it is capable of meeting Apple's stringent technical standards.

Moreover, Apple's latest chips impose stricter requirements on the electrical properties of memory, thereby elevating the technical bar. At present, the unit price of 12GB LPDDR5X memory modules has soared by more than 130%.

By funneling its orders towards Samsung, Apple aims to ensure a steady supply and, to some extent, mitigate the pressure stemming from the escalating costs.