Apple to source iPhone memory chips from Samsung after trade ban on Chinese firm

Apple is reportedly sourcing iPhone memory chips from Samsung.

According to DigiTimes, the U.S export ban on Chinese chipmaker Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC) forced Apple to turn to Samsung. The South Korean company will start supplying memory chips from its Xian plant in China.

Earlier this year, Bloomberg reported that Apple was looking at new memory chip suppliers for the iPhone after a contamination disrupted operations of a key Japanese partner. Apple was believed to be testing NAND flash memory chips from YMTC and a partnership was said to be discussed for months.

Nikkei Asia claimed last month that these plans were put on hold due to tighter U.S export controls on the Chinese tech sector. YMTC is investigated for alleged sales of chips to Huawei.

Trade tensions between U.S and China, and the Covid-19 pandemic, have forced Apple to diversify its supply chain to minimise disruptions. The iPhone maker will be sourcing chips from the Arizona plant in 2024, and shifting production away from China to India and Southeast Asia.

Source: Digitimes via MacRumours

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