Samsung slaps Apple with 100% price increase for LPDRR5X memory modules

The DRAM supply crunch has claimed many victims. Apple has long been referred to as a master of supply chains, but it appears that the Cupertino giant has finally been brought to its knees, if a recent report from Korea is to be believed. 

According to the report, Apple has agreed to an eye-watering 100% price hike for LPDDR5X chips from Samsung.

Needless to say, a consumer electronics giant like Apple has to rely heavily on DRAM suppliers to keep its product stack alive. The report states that Samsung had originally intended to negotiate a 60% price increase for the LPDDR5X modules at the heart of every modern Apple Silicon device. However, they decided to open with a 100% bump instead.

Hilariously, Apple is said to have accepted the offer on the spot. At first glance it may appear to have been bad negotiating on Apple's part, but considering just how scarce consumer-grade DDR5 has become in recent quarters, it is clear that Apple was desperate to secure supply and keep its production lines moving.

Either way, it is difficult for us to speculate just what goes behind closed doors during such crucial business meetings. The exact statement (translated) from the insider can be found below.

However, at the first negotiation table (to gather opinions at 60%), they first proposed a 100% increase, and Apple immediately accepted it and the price was decided as it was. That's how much smartphone companies are heating up to secure memory inventory

The company is expected to announce refreshed MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iPad, and iPad Air lineups sometime next week, alongside a new budget-friendly MacBook and iPhone 17e. None of the aforementioned devices are expected to boast major price jumps, although the "cheap" MacBook might not turn out to be as cheap as Apple would have liked, thanks to fluctuating component prices.