The memory shortage faced by Apple can be avoided as the company can purchase DRAM quantities in bulk for a multitude of products, but one area where the Cupertino firm may continue to struggle is chip supply. As TSMC is operating at its maximum capacity by fulfilling 3nm silicon orders for AI customers, it’s adversely affecting iPhone 17 Pro Max shipments to the point that a customer who has been searching around for a flagship unit is unable to find one in a U.S. state.
Low A19 Pro chip supply could also affect the second-generation MacBook Neo shipments, as Apple will likely prioritize iPhone shipments
Searching around Maryland, Virginia, and DC, Redditor ‘agentic-consultant’ says that he has been hunting for an iPhone 17 Pro Max, but luck isn’t favoring him as he has attempted to contact nearly every Apple store outlet within 300 miles and is still unable to procure one. Seeing as how both the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max were Apple’s premier flagships that were selling in droves, it would make sense to keep these models stocked at all times.
Apparently, the situation has gone from bad to worse because another Reddit user, ‘recoveringloveaholic,’ claims that while he received his unit last Friday, he needed to recheck time and time again if the iPhone 17 Pro Max was in stock. Unfortunately, the device was only available in a single color, hinting that Apple is currently facing a short-term chip and memory supply crisis.
“I got mine last Friday at the Apple Store after checking over and over for it to be in stock. They only had two in stock and I got lucky and got the deep blue in 256GB. They had no other colors. I think it’s because the memory and chip shortages.”
Sadly, this problem isn’t just rampant in a single U.S. state, as an Apple store employee working at Dedham informed a customer that there’s a group that makes bulk purchases of iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max units, likely to resell at inflated prices to take advantage of the supply deficit. Since these groups receive notifications of restocking, they are already a step ahead of customers wanting to secure these flagships for themselves.
We cannot predict how terrible the situation will become, but it’s enough to say that certain individuals have resorted to scalping, suggesting the iPhone 18 launch could face a similar scenario. Also, since the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air use an A19 Pro, Apple could face similar supply issues with the second-generation MacBook Neo, which is said to be powered by the same SoC.
During the technology giant’s Q2 2026 earnings, CEO Tim Cook stated that Apple is working on certain countermeasures to help the company steer towards calmer waters, but even if the chip supply is no longer a problem, the DRAM shortage isn’t going away anytime soon.
News Source: Reddit
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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