Apple has started qualifying DRAM memory chips from China’s state-backed manufacturer ChangXin Memory Technologies for use in devices sold in the Chinese market. The company is running the memory through technical validation stages that typically precede official supplier approval. However, Apple is still lobbying the United States government for permission to use the chips commercially.
Sourcing components from the Chinese memory maker would help Apple manage rising hardware production costs. Other major hardware brands have also accelerated the certification of Chinese components to manage expenses, as seen in the broader trend of PC brands adopting Chinese memory. Global DRAM contract prices surged by an estimated 55% to 60% in early 2026 due to artificial intelligence data center demand.
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The target memory manufacturer appears on the United States Pentagon’s 1260H roster of companies linked to the Chinese military. While this designation restricts Defense Department procurement contracts, it does not legally bar private commercial transactions. Apple wants a promise from administration officials that the memory vendor will not get placed on the export-restricting Commerce Department Entity List in the future.
An earlier effort to source memory from Chinese vendors like Yangtze Memory Technologies drew strong objections from Washington lawmakers in 2022. Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook has taken the proposal directly to officials, arguing that using local memory inside Chinese devices leaves more supply from other partners for global markets. Nevertheless, congressional leaders have already criticized the proposal, calling the potential partnership a grave mistake.
Currently, Apple sources its device memory from Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron Technology. Sourcing from a fourth supplier would give Apple more pricing leverage during component contract negotiations. The memory manufacturer has grown rapidly, accounting for 11% of global DRAM wafer capacity last year, with plans to expand to 15% by 2028.
The global memory shortage previously forced Apple to increase Mac and iPad retail prices between 17% and 25% in several regions. Apple has not commented publicly on the ongoing chip validation process. The United States government has also not indicated whether it will approve Apple’s request to buy memory from the Chinese manufacturer.
Source: Financial Times
