China CXMT rejects Apple request for lower DRAM prices

In a significant shift in the global semiconductor market, Chinese memory chipmaker ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) has reportedly refused a request from Apple for discounted pricing on mobile DRAM chips. According to industry reports, CXMT instead quoted the iPhone maker prices at levels matching or exceeding those of established South Korean suppliers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. The development, reported on August 5 and 6, 2026, highlights a severe shortage of general-purpose memory and a dramatic realignment of negotiating power away from major device manufacturers.

Apple had been exploring CXMT as a potential new supplier of LPDDR5X memory for upcoming iPhones and other devices, seeking to alleviate manufacturing cost pressures. The company had also been lobbying the U.S. government for regulatory approval to source from CXMT, which is on a U.S. restrictions list, for use in products sold globally. However, during recent negotiations, CXMT rejected Apple's request for a price cut.

Analysts point to robust domestic demand in China as the key factor behind CXMT's firm stance. Major Chinese technology firms, including Huawei and Xiaomi, have secured large volumes of...