Apple has warned that component supply constraints could weigh on revenue in the quarter ending September 2026, raising concerns about product availability just weeks before the company is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and its first-ever foldable iPhone.

The warning came from Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook during Apple's third-quarter 2026 earnings call, as the company prepares for what is expected to be one of its biggest product launches in years.

According to Cook, the latest supply constraints will directly affect Apple's three flagship product categories: the iPhone, iPad and Mac.

Apple said its supply chain currently has less flexibility than usual, particularly in securing advanced semiconductor manufacturing capacity, which is essential for producing the company's latest chips.

Despite these challenges, Apple emphasized that consumer demand remains exceptionally strong. In fact, the company said demand exceeding its own expectations has become the primary reason supply pressures are intensifying.

Strong iPhone and Mac demand outpaces Apple's forecasts

Cook stressed that the issue does not stem from manufacturing partners or component suppliers failing to perform.

Instead, Apple is experiencing an unusually successful product cycle, with demand for both iPhones and Macs significantly surpassing internal forecasts.

Sales of the two product lines are performing "substantially better" than the company originally anticipated, Cook said.

As a result, production plans established months ago are no longer sufficient to meet the pace of current demand.

He added that Apple expects demand to remain strong throughout the next quarter.

However, because the supply chain currently has limited flexibility, component shortages are expected to have a greater impact than in the previous quarter and could directly affect Apple's ability to fulfill customer orders.

Rising memory costs add further pressure

Beyond constraints on advanced chip production, Apple is also facing another challenge: rapidly increasing DRAM memory prices.

Cook said Apple paid more for memory during the quarter ending in June than it did in the previous quarter.

Those costs are expected to climb even further during the September quarter, placing additional pressure on the company's profit margins.

Apple believes it can partially offset the impact through two factors.

First, inventory accumulated in previous quarters has helped ease short-term supply pressures. However, the company expects that advantage to diminish after September as inventories are gradually depleted.

Second, declining prices for some other components are helping offset part of the increase in memory costs. Even so, Apple acknowledged that these savings will not fully compensate for continued DRAM price increases.

Cook also pointed to one of the structural causes behind the current situation: the global DRAM market is now dominated by just three major manufacturers.

According to Apple, a broader supplier base would likely improve component availability and could create more competitive pricing over the longer term.

While the company stopped short of predicting that additional suppliers would immediately reduce memory prices, it said greater supply diversity would strengthen long-term supply resilience.

Apple is therefore evaluating multiple options to diversify its supply chain and reduce its dependence on a limited number of DRAM manufacturers.

Key product launches face supply headwinds

Apple's warning comes as the company enters its most important sales season of the year.

The company is expected to introduce its new smartphone lineup in September, including the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and Apple's first foldable iPhone.

The new devices are widely expected to represent one of Apple's most significant product refreshes in recent years and drive another wave of global consumer demand.

However, with advanced chip production capacity remaining constrained and memory supplies under continued pressure, Apple could face challenges meeting what it expects to be exceptionally strong early demand.

As a result, customers in some markets may experience longer waiting times before receiving their new devices following launch.

Hai Phong