Reportedly paying up: Apple said to nearly double memory spending to secure Samsung 12GB LPDDR5X for its first foldable iPhone

Big buy, big price

It has been reported that Apple has placed large orders for 12GB LPDDR5X memory from Samsung as it prepares to ramp production of its first foldable iPhone, the so‑called iPhone Fold. The story, carried by South Korea’s The Bell and summarised by Chinese tech site IT Home (IT之家), says Apple is also buying from SK Hynix (SK海力士) and Micron to strengthen bargaining power — but Samsung remains the largest supplier. Reportedly, the memory contract’s unit cost is roughly double what it was a year ago, a reflection of the cyclical recovery and tightness in the memory market.

Supply chain and volumes

Apple has reportedly asked suppliers to lift initial stocking targets by about 20%, a move that would directly benefit major assemblers such as Foxconn (富士康). Production of core parts is expected to ramp from the end of Q2 ahead of a planned autumn 2026 launch. Insiders quoted by the reports estimate first‑year shipments at roughly 7–9 million units, with a hard cap near 12 million — under 5% of Apple’s projected 2025 iPhone volumes. Why the aggressive stocking? Apple appears to be betting on a high‑end, low‑volume product rather than a mass market gamble.

What the Fold will be

Details on the device itself have also leaked. It has been reported that the Fold will use an A20 Pro chip, Apple’s in‑house C2 5G modem, and a dedicated vapor chamber‑style heat spreader. The folded form will resemble a wide passport: a ~5.4‑inch outer screen and a 7.7‑inch main display (2713 x 1920, 4:3). To minimise crease visibility the hinge and display stack reportedly use ultra‑thin flexible glass (UFG), a liquid‑metal hinge, titanium bodywork and a COE encapsulation film; fold depth is claimed to be as low as 0.15 mm. Other reported specs include a 48MP dual rear camera, up to a 24MP under‑display front camera, no Face ID in favour of side Touch ID, a 5,400–5,800 mAh battery, eSIM‑only configuration and an expected premium price as high as $2,399.

Why Western readers should care

This is more than a product story. It highlights how concentrated advanced memory supply remains in South Korea and how component price swings can reshape OEM economics — at a time when chip supply chains are politically sensitive. Reportedly higher memory costs will squeeze margins or push consumer prices higher, and the deal underscores how Apple continues to juggle suppliers globally amid U.S. export controls, China’s chip ambitions and shifting trade policy. In short: securing cutting‑edge parts is proving expensive, and the ripple effects will be felt across suppliers and final prices.