If you plan to buy the new iPhone 18 Pro this fall, you might want to place your order quickly. A recent supply chain report reveals that a severe lack of memory components is stalling the final production stages of the device. As millions of processors sit unused in factories, Apple is rushing to secure enough parts to meet early consumer demand before retail shelves run empty.
A massive pile of processors sits idle waiting for memory
Tim Culpan recently reported that the manufacturer TSMC is currently sitting on roughly one billion dollars worth of unpackaged A20 Pro chips. The production of the core processor itself is going perfectly fine. The roadblock happens during the final packaging step. The factory uses a special process to attach the processor directly to the memory hardware.
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Since the memory deliveries from suppliers are running late, the completed processor wafers are stacking up in the facility. The tech giant relies heavily on brands like Micron, Samsung, and SK Hynix for these components. We previously saw how a Chinese supplier rejected a bid for cheaper memory, which highlights just how difficult the supply chain is right now.
High demand will likely push shipping dates back for weeks
The company still believes it has enough finished units to cover the very first wave of buyers on launch day. The real concern centers on what happens immediately after that initial rush. Supply chain analysts expect wait times for online orders to stretch out significantly, leaving physical stores with nothing in stock.
This issue gets much worse when you look at the overall lineup for the year. The brand pushed the standard iPhone 18 release to early 2027. This leaves shoppers with only the Pro models and an expensive foldable option for the holiday season. With fewer choices on the table, more buyers will target the Pro version, making the inventory shortage even harder to manage.
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