No iPhone 18 this year as Apple is struggling with global memory shortage?

Apple is reportedly planning to postpone the launch of its standard iPhone 18 to 2027. The delay is said to be driven by shortages of key memory components, as well as wider supply chain challenges that have made it harder for Apple to secure enough parts for a timely launch.

Apple may skip the launch of its standard iPhone 18 this year. According to reports, the company is currently dealing with a global shortage of memory chips along with ongoing supply chain constraints. A Nikkei Asia report, citing people familiar with the matter, claims that Apple has decided to delay the regular iPhone 18 until the first half of 2027. Instead, this year’s iPhone lineup is expected to focus on premium models and the company’s much-anticipated first foldable iPhone.

Apple’s reported plan to space out its iPhone launches comes at a time when memory chip prices are surging globally, largely due to increased demand from artificial intelligence data centres. Memory makers are struggling to keep up, creating bottlenecks that are now spilling over into the consumer electronics industry, Apple included.

“The constraints that we have are driven by the availability of the advanced nodes that our SoCs are produced on, and at this time, we’re seeing less flexibility in the supply chain than normal,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said while acknowledging the challenges during the company’s earnings call. Cook added that the ongoing situation is partly the result of Apple’s own growing demand for cutting-edge chips.

The delay of the iPhone 18 is not just about chip shortages. According to reports, Apple’s decision is also strategic. Rising material costs, combined with the technical complexity of developing a foldable iPhone, have reportedly pushed Apple to prioritise higher-margin premium devices. “Supply chain smoothness is one of the key challenges for this year, and the marketing strategy change also played a part in the decision,” an executive at an iPhone supplier told Nikkei Asia.

Interestingly, at the heart of Apple’s supply challenges is its reliance on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) for advanced chip production. While TSMC dominates leading-edge manufacturing, it is facing strain on keeping up the demand as AI companies are competing aggressively for the same advanced nodes. Accoridng to Cook Apple is working to increase its access to supply.

While Apple said the impact of rising memory prices was “minimal” in the last quarter, the CEO warned that the pressure would become more noticeable in the coming months. He also noted that the company is exploring “a range of options” to manage the situation. Meanwhile, Apple has been gradually expanding its domestic chip sourcing, revealing that it procured around 20 billion chips in the US in 2025, up from 19 billion the previous year.