Apple has ordered so many iPhone 7 units ahead of its big launch next month that RAM supplies are quickly diminishing, causing prices to increase. Even desktop RAM is taking a hit as manufacturers turn their attention to smartphone components.
“DRAM prices in August were on an upward trend as they were in the previous month,” reads a report from DRAMeXchange, which adds that average prices of 4GB RAM modules jumped 2 percent sequentially to $13.50.
“With the official launch of the next iPhone release on September 7, the entire smartphone supply chain is now under a critical period of intense stock-up activities,” said research director Avril Wu.
As a result of that demand, manufacturers are focusing on smartphone modules and making fewer desktop RAM modules. The ripple effect means that PC makers are also feeling the impact of the iPhone 7 and having to pay more for components.
Prices for both mobile and desktop RAM are expected to continue rising throughout the remainder of 2016.
It’s thought the smaller iPhone 7 will have 2GB of RAM like the iPhone 6s, but the larger iPhone 7 Plus could get 3GB — more than any other iPhone. The only other iOS device to offer more than that is the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which has 4GB of RAM.
