Apple is reportedly testing Chinese CXMT memory chips - the DRAM shortage is even hitting Apple's supply chain

Facing the scarcity of HBM and the explosive demand for AI, Apple is reportedly exploring Chinese alternatives for its memory. A sign of the magnitude of the pressure on the entire hardware stack.

The Fact. According to sources reported by Tech in Asia, Apple is testing DRAM chips from Chinese manufacturer CXMT (Changxin Memory Technologies) to address shortages driven by AI demand. CXMT is China's leading domestic DRAM producer, developed under pressure from U.S. export restrictions on lithography equipment.

Our Take. Apple wields immense bargaining power with SK Hynix, Samsung, and Micron. If it’s still exploring Chinese alternatives despite this, the constraint is structural, not temporary. Apple Intelligence systems and M-series chips consume high-density DRAM—a bottleneck shared with hyperscalers. CXMT still lags behind the best specs from industry leaders but may suffice for non-frontier use cases.

This exploration indirectly validates China’s strategy of technological substitution from the ground up: developing an acceptable alternative where the market is strained, then scaling up.

To Watch. An official Apple/CXMT deal would be as much a geopolitical event as an industrial one—and a direct test of U.S. export policy on memory.