Image credit – Foundry/Macworld
If you’re planning to buy the new iPhone 18 Pro this fall, your best shot might be right at launch. A new supply chain report says Apple could struggle to keep the phone in stock once the initial rush of buyers is gone, so shoppers who wait could face longer waits than usual.
Apple plans to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and its first foldable iPhone at a September event. But analyst Tim Culpan says Apple and its manufacturing partners are running low on a memory chip called DRAM. That shortage is holding up production.
Why your phone might be harder to find later
The iPhone 18 Pro uses a new chip called the A20 Pro. Apple changed how this chip gets built this year. Factories now package the processor and its memory together in one single step. In the past, they added memory separately, later on. That means if the memory isn’t ready, the finished chip can’t move forward either.
Right now, Apple’s manufacturing partner TSMC is reportedly holding around $1 billion worth of these processors. They’re finished but stuck waiting on memory to complete them.
Culpan says Apple and its assemblers feel confident about meeting demand for launch day itself. The bigger worry is what happens after that. Online orders could get pushed out fast, and store shelves could run dry sooner than usual.
That risk looks bigger this year for one more reason. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max won’t have as much company on shelves. Apple reportedly plans to delay its base iPhone 18 model until early 2027. That leaves shoppers who want a new iPhone this fall with fewer other options to fall back on.
What buyers should expect
This isn’t just about product timing either. The same memory shortage has already pushed prices higher. The iPhone 18 Pro is rumored to start between $1,299 and $1,399. Last year’s iPhone 17 Pro started at $1,099.
If you know you want an iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max this year, preorder as soon as Apple opens orders. Waiting even a few weeks could mean a longer shipping wait, or an empty shelf at your local Apple Store.