Samsung Electronics reported a record operating profit of ₩89.5 trillion for the April-June period, boosted by AI-driven chip demand, while warning that memory chip shortages could persist into 2028.
Samsung's CFO warns of deepening RAM chip shortages until 2028, driven by AI demand for high-bandwidth memory. This has halved business for some vendors, quadrupled prices, and impacts PC and automotive sectors globally, with Chinese competition also emerging.
Apple's popular MacBook Air is facing significant supply constraints due to the global memory chip shortage, driven by demands from AI companies. Retailers report unprecedented scarcity, with Apple's official website showing delivery delays until August or September for new orders.
Samsung forecasts the global RAM chip shortage will intensify into 2027 and last until 2028, driven by AI demand. This has allowed Samsung to secure long-term contracts but has increased component costs, impacting smartphone/TV profitability and leading to price hikes for consumers from Samsung and Apple.
A persistent memory chip shortage is severely impacting budget smartphone makers, making handsets under US$100 unprofitable to manufacture. Analysts predict a 400% surge in memory costs by Q3 2026, forcing major vendors to abandon this segment and pivot to mid-range products, driving up average retail prices.
India's smartphone market, the world's second-largest, sees a 10% year-over-year decline in shipments (Q2) due to rising memory chip costs driven by AI demand, impacting lower-end segments hardest.
Apple and Xbox are increasing prices for MacBooks, iPads, and gaming consoles due to rising memory and storage chip costs, driven by demand for AI data centers. Experts note the AI boom is impacting consumer electronics.
Micron, a leading U.S. memory chip manufacturer, reported a significant surge in Q3 revenue and profit, leading to a 13% jump in shares. This strong performance occurs amidst a severe, AI-fueled memory chip shortage that is driving up prices for consumers, a concern highlighted by Apple CEO Tim Cook.
Apple CEO Tim Cook stated price increases for iPhones are "unavoidable" due to a global memory-chip shortage. Analysts expect current iPhone models to see price hikes as soon as this month, before the iPhone 18 launch.
Apple is reportedly planning price increases on popular devices like iPhones, Macs, and iPads due to a global shortage of memory and storage chips. CEO Tim Cook cited unsustainable cost increases, with estimates suggesting iPhone Pro models could rise by $270.
Apple CEO Tim Cook warns that rising memory and storage chip costs, driven by AI demand, will likely lead to price increases for Macs, iPhones, and iPads. The situation is described as "unsustainable," with potential impacts on future product pricing.
The global smartphone market is set for its largest annual decline ever, with shipments expected to drop 13.9% this year due to a severe memory chip shortage. Budget phones are hit hardest as chipmakers prioritize AI chips, while premium segments like Apple and Samsung show more resilience.
US intelligence agencies, facing a critical chip shortage, are using advanced AI models from Anthropic, a company previously blacklisted as a national security threat. A $9 billion emergency funding request aims to build secure data centers for high-end semiconductors needed for AI operations.
BT CEO Allison Kirkby warns the AI boom is driving demand for semiconductor chips, potentially leading to shortages and price hikes for smartphones and other electronics. Tech firms are buying large quantities of memory chips for AI data centers, impacting supply chains.
Chip shortages and demand from AI enthusiasts are both playing a part.
Apple is experiencing prolonged shortages and shipping delays for Mac mini and Mac Studio models, which CEO Tim Cook attributes largely to unexpectedly strong demand for AI and agentic tools. Cook noted on the Q2 2026 earnings call that supply constraints, particularly on advanced manufacturing nodes, are affecting availability, though the company still reported strong overall revenue growth.
The AI boom is worsening a global memory chip shortage, which Samsung predicts will continue into 2027Samsung Electronics on Thursday reported record quarterly profit driven by a 49-fold jump in chip income, saying it expects a severe supply shortage to deepen next year as clients spend on AI, driving up prices of its memory chips.A boom in the construction of AI datacentres has spurred Samsung and chipmaking peers to allocate production capacity to advanced chips that Nvidia uses in its so-called AI accelerators. Even so, chipmakers are struggling to meet demand while the move also squeezes the supply of conventional chips. Continue reading...
Apple's iPhone revenue jumped 22 percent to $57 billion over the past few months, despite supply chain issues impacting the device's processor. During an interview with Reuters, Apple CEO Tim Cook said iPhone "demand was off the charts" but added that there's "a little less flexibility in the supply chain at the moment for getting […]
