The Apple iPhone 14 can pack a memory of a Chinese company you’ve never heard of
Apple reportedly signed a deal with Chinese memory maker Yangtze Memory Technologies Corp. (YMTC), to implement the company’s 3D NAND flash inside iPhone 14.
Historically, Apple relied on flash drives from companies such as Samsung, Kioxia, and sk Hynix, but report from Business Korea (opens in a new tab) suggests adding YMTC to the list.
The deal with Apple, one of the world’s largest consumers of 3D NAND flash memory, could be considered something of a coup d’état for YMTC that other Chinese companies typically serve.
Apple iPhone memory 14
According to reports, the main ambition behind Apple’s deal with YMTC is to lower the cost of flash memory by diversifying the supplier pool. But presumably the deal will mean Apple will be guaranteed access to 3D NAND in sufficient quantities in the face of continued supply chain disruptions.
Separately, there are speculations that the transaction may have something to do with Apple’s willingness to further penetrate the Chinese market. Currently, Apple owns about 13% share in Chinabut by hugging a state-owned supplier such as YMTC, perhaps the Cupertino-based company could please.
While it seems initially the plan is to use YMTC products exclusively for the iPhone 14, it is possible that the company’s chips could be integrated into SSD on Apple Mac devices at a later date.
As our sister site noted Tom’s gear (opens in a new tab)YMTC is in the process of developing a number of promising products, including a family of six-plane 3D NAND chips equipped with third-generation Xtracking technology to improve speed, storage density and energy efficiency.
TechRadar Pro he asked both Apple and YMTC to confirm the transaction and further details about its nature.
