Apple tests Chinese CXMT memory chips for iPhones and MacBooks

Published Aug 10, 01:25 PM UTC

Apple is evaluating memory chips from Chinese manufacturer CXMT for use in iPhones and MacBooks, initially targeting devices sold in China, and has sought White House approval for the move. The testing comes amid a global memory shortage driven by surging AI infrastructure demand from hyperscalers like Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon, which has caused memory costs to rise fourfold. Apple CEO Tim Cook previously announced price increases, calling the pricing environment a 'hundred-year flood.' The effort faces political headwinds, as a bipartisan group of U.S. senators urged Apple not to use Chinese chips. CXMT's technology lags industry leaders SK Hynix, Samsung, and Micron by two to three generations. HP and Acer are already sourcing CXMT chips for non-U.S. markets to offset supply constraints.