Apple Secures Mobile DRAM Supply at Premium Prices to Restrict Rivals, Prioritize Market Share

Apple Inc. (AAPL) is purchasing available mobile DRAM at elevated prices to secure component supply and limit competitor access, prioritizing market share expansion over near-term profit margins, according to April 3, 2026, industry reports. The procurement strategy aligns with analyst Ming-Chi Kuo’s assessment that Apple will absorb higher chip costs to maintain competitive device pricing. The company recently launched a $599 MacBook Neo to target the $30 billion laptop segment. Supply constraints have prompted MediaTek (2454-TW) and Qualcomm (QCOM) to reduce 4-nanometer chip output by 20,000 to 30,000 wafers, equivalent to 15 million to 20 million processors. Samsung has also raised South Korean retail prices for select smartphones and tablets. CEO Tim Cook previously identified memory availability and TSMC (TSM) 3-nanometer capacity as primary supply bottlenecks.