A number of factors have determined that a price hike for the iPhone 17 series was inevitable, with a previous estimation claiming that customers would have to fork over up to $200 compared to the iPhone 16 series. Naturally, Apple risks losing a ton of traction for its upcoming products, but avoiding Trump’s tariffs is an obstacle no entity, not even the trillion-dollar giant, can avoid. To make it worse, rising component costs will exacerbate matters, but one way Apple can combat it is to bring in as many suppliers as possible to leverage better pricing for various parts. According to the latest analysis, it has added up to five manufacturers to its iPhone 17 family for the DRAM and NAND.
Samsung and SK hynix are both included in Apple’s DRAM and NAND supply chain for the iPhone 17 lineup
A comprehensive analysis from Citi was shared by @Jukanlosreve on X, revealing the number of suppliers Apple has for each major component found in the iPhone 17 lineup that is scheduled to be announced during its September 9 ‘Awe Dropping’ event. Samsung and SK hynix, two household names in the memory business, will supply both the DRAM and NAND chips to Apple, with Samsung securing the majority of orders with its 37 percent share, followed by SK hynix with a 33 percent share, and lastly, Micron, with a 30 percent cut.
For the NAND flash memory chips, Apple is bringing SanDisk and Kioxia to the mix, with the latter getting the lion’s share of orders at 35 percent, followed by SK hynix at 30 percent. Alongside Trump’s tariffs, there is an increase in the memory prices that will eat into Apple’s profit margins, which is why the five manufacturers have been tasked with fulfilling orders for the company. Since SK hynix has been reported on multiple occasions to have an edge over its local rival Samsung, it is not surprising to see the manufacturer receive a bulk of the NAND and DRAM orders.
At scale, the company may have also offered Apple competitive prices for these parts, resulting in SK hynix becoming a leading supplier. As for Samsung, in addition to providing DRAM and NAND parts, the Korean giant also has a massive hand in giving millions of LTPO OLED panels for Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, making the company one of the most vital supply chain partners for the Cupertino firm. The final pricing of the entire lineup will be provided at next week’s keynote, but the route that Apple has taken with these specific parts is one way of reducing its ‘Bill of Materials.’
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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