According to industry sources, Apple intends to equip iPhones sold in China with YMTC NAND flash chips, which would mark the first time domestic flash memory enters Apple's supply chain.
The move aims to counter the ongoing surge in global memory chip prices. Apple's current reliance on Samsung and SK Hynix has left it with little bargaining power—Samsung reportedly forced a 100% price increase, and a single LPDDR5X chip now costs Apple up to $70.
YMTC earned Apple's consideration through solid technology. Its proprietary Xtacking 4.0 technology enables mass production of 300+ layer 3D NAND, matching flagship products from Samsung (286 layers) and SK Hynix (321 layers). YMTC has already been widely used in domestic flagship phones and has been removed from US restriction lists.
Reports suggest China aims for 80% semiconductor self-sufficiency, making YMTC's progress a key milestone.
If confirmed, Apple would likely limit YMTC chips to China-only iPhones, balancing cost savings with lower political risk while breaking the Korean duopoly.
ICgoodFind : A potential Apple-YMTC deal could reshape memory sourcing for China iPhones and accelerate local semiconductor adoption.
