库克也认栽！三星内存涨价苹果“秒同意”，手机真要涨价了！

Core Viewpoint - Apple, traditionally seen as a dominant force in supply chain management, is now facing significant challenges due to a global shortage of memory chips, forcing the company to adapt its negotiation strategies with suppliers like Samsung [1][3]. Group 1: Supply Chain Dynamics - Apple is currently engaged in intense negotiations with Samsung to secure memory chips for the upcoming iPhone 17 series, with executives reportedly stationed in South Korea for direct discussions [3]. - Initially, Samsung planned to increase prices by approximately 60%, but later proposed a staggering 100% price hike, effectively doubling the cost [4]. - Contrary to expectations, Apple accepted the price increase without significant negotiation, indicating a deep-seated fear of supply disruptions [6]. Group 2: Market Conditions - The memory chip market is experiencing extreme price volatility, with the cost of a 12GB LPDDR5X memory chip rising from $25-$29 in early 2025 to $70 by the end of the same year [6]. - Industry analysts predict that contract prices for ordinary DRAM will increase by 55% to 60% in Q1 2026, while flash memory prices are expected to rise by over 30% [8]. - The surge in demand for high-end memory chips, driven by AI applications, has led to a decrease in the production of standard LPDDR memory, exacerbating supply shortages [8]. Group 3: Financial Implications - Apple's decision to accept the price increase reflects its substantial cash reserves, allowing it to absorb the costs without immediate financial strain [10]. - However, the increased costs are likely to be passed on to consumers, with potential price hikes for higher storage versions of the iPhone 17, possibly ranging from several hundred to over a thousand dollars [10].