Apple has warned investors that it may face more severe supply constraints for the iPhone, iPad and Mac in the coming months. The issue is not due to supplier disruptions but to unexpectedly strong demand for the devices. Kursiv LifeStyle takes a look at the details.
Outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook addressed the issue during Apple’s third-quarter 2026 earnings call. He said demand for the iPhone and Mac had significantly exceeded forecasts, pushing the company’s supply chain close to its capacity. Availability of advanced manufacturing process nodes used to produce Apple’s chips also remains constrained.
«This isn’t a partner or supplier issue… It’s an incredibly strong iPhone and Mac product cycle that has really yielded a demand beyond our expectation,» MacRumors cited Cook as saying.
Memory has become another challenge for the company. Apple spent more on memory in the second quarter than in the first, and expects those costs to increase even further in the next quarter.
Previously accumulated component inventories and lower prices for some other components are expected to partially offset the increase in costs. However, Apple expects memory prices to continue rising beyond September.
The new constraints could coincide with Apple’s traditional fall event, during which the company is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 lineup, including the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and the company’s first foldable iPhone.
