On April 3, 2026, reports emerged that Apple is aggressively purchasing all available mobile DRAM chips on the market at significantly inflated prices—even at the cost of its own operating profits—in a strategic move to block competitors from securing these critical components. This tactic has already begun to bear fruit: MediaTek and Qualcomm have scaled back production of their 4-nanometer chips, leading to a corresponding drop in mobile chip supply by an estimated 15–20 million units. Meanwhile, Samsung has raised prices for various tablets and smartphones in South Korea, a move likely tied to the shifting market dynamics. Earlier, Tianfeng Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had proposed that Apple could grow its market share by absorbing costs. Apple appears to have taken this strategy to heart, not only launching the budget-friendly MacBook Neo at $599 but also aggressively stockpiling chips amid a global shortage of mobile DRAM production capacity. This dual approach—combining competitive pricing with supply chain dominance—signals Apple’s determination to solidify its position in the tech industry, even if it means enduring short-term financial losses to outmaneuver rivals.