Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, and Micron face a California lawsuit accusing them of coordinating DRAM production cuts that artificially inflated memory prices. Consumers and small businesses filed the antitrust complaint, claiming the three major suppliers conspired to restrict supply of mainstream DRAM chips including DDR3 and DDR4. Apple isn't named as a defendant but relies heavily on these vendors for its hardware.

The lawsuit centers on the shift toward high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips used in AI applications, which command premium prices. According to court filings, Samsung held 38% of global DRAM revenue in early 2026, followed by SK hynix at 29% and Micron at 22%. Plaintiffs argue this market concentration enabled coordinated supply restrictions rather than competitive expansion when prices rose.

Apple recently raised prices on Mac, iPad, and other products, citing unsustainable RAM and storage costs. While the company attributed these increases to AI-driven demand, plaintiffs offer an alternative explanation: deliberate supply manipulation by dominant suppliers. The case hinges on proving coordination versus independent business decisions responding to the same market incentives.

This follows earlier DRAM price-fixing convictions in the 2000s, when Samsung paid a $300 million criminal fine and Hynix paid $185 million for antitrust violations. Those prior cases don't prove current wrongdoing but establish industry precedent for such allegations. Discovery proceedings will likely determine whether internal communications reveal collusion or legitimate strategic pivots.