Apple tests memory chips from China’s CXMT across iPhones and MacBooks, report says

Apple is reportedly testing memory chips produced by China’s CXMT as it evaluates additional sourcing for components used in iPhones and Mac computers, according to a report published by Yahoo Finance via Semafor on Aug. 9, 2026.

The report frames the supplier trial against a backdrop of a global memory crunch that has been intensified by the growth of artificial intelligence workloads, which rely on large amounts of high-performance memory in data centers and, indirectly, in downstream hardware supply chains.

If Apple is able to qualify CXMT chips for production, it could reduce reliance on a narrower set of memory providers and add flexibility as manufacturers compete for capacity during periods when memory is scarce or expensive.

Apple did not provide details in the report about the timing of any qualification process, the specific chip types under evaluation, or whether the testing is limited to particular models or geographies.

The company is also not described as having publicly committed to switching suppliers. Instead, the information presented centers on testing activity, which typically indicates validation work for performance, reliability, and compatibility rather than a near-term change visible to consumers.

For Apple, memory sourcing matters because its product lineup spans phones, laptops, and other devices that require stable access to performance and process characteristics that chipmakers can reliably reproduce at scale.

Sector-wide, the competition for memory capacity has become more pronounced as AI accelerators and servers drive demand for memory-intensive systems. That pressure can spill over into consumer electronics component planning, since suppliers and foundries prioritize orders tied to the fastest-growing categories.