Apple’s Siri AI To Worsen DRAM Crisis As Samsung And SK hynix Will Be Reaping The Rewards At The Industry’s Expense - Wccftech

Apple's upcoming Siri AI features will significantly impact the global DRAM market, with the iPhone 18 lineup expected to feature at least 12GB LPDDR5X memory, exacerbating existing supply shortages. ... Read original →

Apple’s move to mandate 12GB LPDDR5X in the iPhone 18 isn’t just a spec bump—it’s a direct consequence of on-device AI demanding higher memory bandwidth and capacity. This triggers a cascade: SoC vendors must redesign memory subsystems, LPDDR6 development accelerates, and mid-tier DRAM allocation shrinks. Geopolitically, as the U.S. and EU tighten controls on advanced semiconductors, high-bandwidth memory may fall under new export restrictions, raising Apple’s compliance overhead. While Samsung and SK hynix capture windfall profits from Apple’s volume orders, ecosystem players like TSMC and MediaTek face cost and delivery pressures. Over the next 12–24 months, smaller OEMs—unable to secure premium DRAM—will lag in AI deployment, deepening a ‘memory divide’ that consolidates market power among tech giants.