Apple suppliers sharply raise iPhone memory prices

South Korean manufacturers Samsung Electronics and SK hynix have agreed with Apple on a significant increase in prices for iPhone memory in the first quarter, TrendForce reports, citing ZDNet.

According to sources, Samsung secured price hikes of more than 80% compared with the previous quarter. SK hynix negotiated an increase of roughly 100%.

Media outlets note that Apple has historically leveraged its scale as the world’s leading smartphone maker to secure LPDDR memory at relatively low prices. However, a memory shortage that intensified in mid-last year has limited the company’s ability to push back against broader pricing trends.

LPDDR is a form of DRAM optimized for higher energy efficiency compared with standard DDR memory. It is a critical component in smartphones and other IT devices.

As a result, Samsung and SK hynix are expected to further improve the profitability of their DRAM divisions in the first quarter. Moreover, LPDDR prices for Apple could rise even further in the second half of 2026.

That period is expected to coincide with the launch of Apple’s next flagship smartphone, the iPhone 18. Apple typically signs long-term annual memory supply contracts, but due to ongoing shortages, the latest negotiations reportedly resulted in agreements covering only the first half of the year.

The broader DRAM market is also seeing significant price increases. According to TrendForce, strong demand for DDR5 pushed DRAM prices up by 53–58% in the fourth quarter.

LPDDR5X, the seventh generation of LPDDR, is currently the most widely used standard. Apple is among the largest buyers of LPDDR memory, with iPhone shipments last year estimated at around 250 million units.

With higher pricing now taking effect for Apple, overall supplier profitability is expected to strengthen further in the first quarter. Sources added that LPDDR prices had already risen by around 40% in the fourth quarter.