Availability of the iPhone 18 Pro series as well as new Macs and iPads could take a hit this fall. Apple admitted its supply chain is facing challenges.
The result could be lengthy wait times for this fall’s hottest new models. And an analyst warned that there could be price hikes for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, too.
Apple product demand strains its production capacity
The AI boom is putting unprecedented pressure on the global chip supply chain. Data centers need huge numbers of cutting-edge processors along with enormous amounts of DRAM and NAND memory, resulting fewer components available for consumer electronics. Even Apple, with its massive purchasing power and long-term supplier agreements, is feeling the squeeze.
During an earnings call with investors on Thursday, Apple CEO Tim Cook said supply constraints will hit the company hard this fall.
“The projected supply constraints in the September quarter affect iPhone, Mac and iPad, and so we’re we’re seeing some very significant constraints currently, with limited flexibility in the in the supply chain to remedy.” said Cook.
The global shortage in memory chips that’s been dubbed RAMageddon isn’t the only problem. Cook also called out limited availability of the advanced chip nodes used in the latest Apple silicon processors.
At the same time, Apple has products that customers really want. Cook spoke of “an incredibly strong iPhone and Mac product cycle” pushing demand beyond what Apple can actually make. He called out the MacBook Neo and iPhone 17 during Thursday’s call.
Buying a new iPhone or Mac this fall? Prepare for long wait times.
Apple customers will be directly affected by Apple’s supply constraints. Component shortages are likely to frustrate those hoping to buy the company’s most popular products this fall.
With demand expected to remain strong and supplies of advanced processors and memory chips constrained, new iPhones, Macs and other flagship devices could sell out quickly after launch. That would likely translate into shipping delays stretching for weeks, especially for higher-end configurations and popular colors, making it a good year for buyers to place their orders as early as possible.
iPhone prices on the rise, too
The rumor arrives right after Apple warned investors about chip and component shortages. The company also said supply will be tight for the iPhone, iPad and Mac this September.
Another result could be increased costs. In a research note on published Friday on X, analyst Jeff Pu predicts the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max could see a price hike of $250 to $300 versus the current versions. Do the math, and the iPhone 18 Pro could start around $1,349 to $1,399 while the and Pro Max could reach the $1,449 to $1,499. Pu’s prediction echoes what other analysts have said earlier.
This isn’t the first time Apple has faced sticker shock. Back in June, Apple raised prices across iPad, Mac, HomePod, Apple TV and Vision Pro. But the iPhone 17 series was spared that round of hikes.
A bad day for Apple on Wall Street
Citing demand uncertainty tied to steeper prices, Pu also downgraded Apple stock from buy to hold. He blamed the higher costs on Apple’s shift to a 2nm A20 Pro chip and the soaring DRAM and NAND prices.
But that’s just one of many factors weighing down Apple’s share price on Friday. On Thursday, Apple Chief Financial Officer Kevan Parekh warned investors that component supply constraints are likely to hurt the company’s ability to make money during the September quarter — it can’t sell iPhones and Macs it can’t produce. The result? The AAPL share price is down over 9% on Wall Street on Friday.
Anurag Chawake is a tech-focused writer specializing in smartphones, apps and consumer technology. His interest in computers began during the Windows 98 era, eventually leading him to explore everything from operating systems to mobile devices and PC hardware. Anurag previously contributed to The Indian Express, covering Apple, Android, gaming and the broader technology landscape.
