Apple is currently facing significantly rising prices for RAM and SSD memory chips. This development affects large parts of the semiconductor supply chain and also impacts the company's cost structure. Nevertheless, Apple remains resilient, pointing to strong financial results and a clear assessment of the financial consequences.
During a conference call with stock analysts, Apple CEO Tim Cook addressed the current situation in detail. The focus was on the sharply increased prices of memory chips, which play a crucial role in many Apple products. Cook objectively assessed the impact and offered an outlook on possible future developments.
Rising prices in the supply chain
Tim Cook explained that RAM and SSD storage prices in the supply chain had recently risen rapidly. However, this price development had only a minimal impact on Apple's gross margin in the fourth quarter of calendar year 2025. At the same time, Cook made it clear that the company expects a somewhat stronger impact on the gross margin in the current quarter.
While the higher costs for memory chips do represent a burden, Apple currently considers them manageable. The company does not foresee any immediate threat to profitability.
Apple's handling of rising costs
Cook emphasized that Apple is aware of the rising prices and is closely monitoring the situation. In the event that the costs for RAM and SSD storage remain high or continue to rise in the long term, Apple intends to explore a range of options to respond. These are long-term measures, though no specific steps or strategies were detailed. The statements suggest that Apple wants to remain flexible and make structural adjustments as needed.
Strong business figures despite challenges
Despite the challenging situation with memory chips, Apple continues to report very strong business results. Last quarter, the company reported record revenue of $143.8 billion, a 16 percent increase year over year. For the current quarter, Apple forecasts revenue growth of 13 to 16 percent compared to the same period last year.
Profitability also remains at a high level. Apple expects a gross margin of between 48 and 49 percent, which shows that rising component prices have not yet had a fundamental impact on the company's financial strength.
Apple remains stable despite rising memory prices
Apple is taking the rising prices for RAM and memory chips seriously, but so far considers the impact to be limited. Slight pressures on gross margins are possible in the short term, while the company is keeping various options open for the long term. At the same time, record sales, high growth forecasts, and a stable margin underscore that Apple remains very well positioned even under more challenging market conditions. The best products for you: Our Amazon storefront offers a wide selection of accessories, including those for HomeKit. (Image: Shutterstock / Oasishifi)
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