The upcoming iPhone 18 Pro could face limited availability shortly after its launch due to a reported DRAM shortage impacting production. According to a report by Culpium, while the production of Apple's A20 Pro processor, manufactured on TSMC's N2 node, is progressing well, wafers are accumulating as they await DRAM delivery for packaging.

TSMC is reportedly holding approximately $1 billion worth of Apple processors that cannot proceed without the necessary DRAM. This bottleneck raises concerns that Apple may struggle to meet its desired inventory levels for the iPhone 18 Pro. While initial demand is expected to be met, there are worries about extended wait times for online orders and depleted retail stock.

The situation could be exacerbated by a narrower range of new iPhone models this fall. Unlike previous years, the base iPhone 18 is reportedly delayed until early 2027, and the iPhone Air 2 is not anticipated this fall. With only the high-end iPhone Ultra also launching, demand for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max might be unusually high, potentially leading to longer waits for consumers.