Recent reports suggest that Apple is exploring the use of Chinese RAM from ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) and Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC). The latest information indicates that Apple is currently testing DRAM chips sourced from CXMT, but with a notable caveat: these Chinese-made RAM chips will be exclusively utilized in devices sold within China.
This strategy may help Apple mitigate potential backlash from the U.S., given that the Trump administration has placed both CXMT and YMTC on its Entity List, which includes firms linked to the Chinese military. While it is not illegal to engage with these companies, such actions could tarnish Apple's reputation. Nevertheless, by limiting the use of Chinese RAM to devices sold in China, Apple may hope to appease concerns raised by the previous administration.
The current RAM crisis, fueled by soaring demand from AI data centers that are consuming the supply from non-Chinese manufacturers, undoubtedly influences this decision. Moreover, Apple has been reported to have evaluated NAND chips from YMTC since 2022, highlighting the company's ongoing interest in the Chinese memory market.
Source | Via
