Apple iPhone Ultra launch hit by DRAM shortage, Samsung tops DRAM market
Samsung Electronics retained its lead in the global DRAM market in Q2 2026, holding a 39 % share and widening the gap over SK Hynix (26 %) and Micron (25 %). The strong position comes as Apple Inc. prepares to launch its first foldable iPhone – the iPhone Ultra – slated for September 2026. The device will feature a 2 nm A20 Pro processor, 12 GB of RAM, a 7.8‑inch OLED inner display and a 5.5‑inch outer screen, with a starting price above US$2 000. Apple is urgently buying DRAM from Micron, SK Hynix and Samsung to meet the demand of the iPhone 18 Pro line and the upcoming iPhone Ultra; analysts estimate about US$1 billion worth of A20 Pro chips are waiting for DRAM before final assembly can proceed. The shortage could constrain supply of the iPhone 18 Pro at launch. In the same period, Counterpoint Research reported that Apple captured 65 % of the premium‑smartphone market (devices priced above $600) in the first half of 2026, with Samsung holding 19 %. Samsung also shipped the most phones worldwide in Q2 2026, accounting for 24 % of global shipments versus Apple’s 20 %. Meanwhile, BYD Electronic, a Chinese OEM, has expanded into Apple’s supply chain after acquiring Jabil’s Chengdu and Wuxi factories for $2.2 billion, now assembling iPhone chassis and competing with Foxconn. Samsung’s DeX feature, now available on its Galaxy and foldable Z‑series devices, lets users run a PC‑like desktop environment on an external monitor, further blurring the line between phones and computers.
Entities: Apple Inc. · BYD Electronic (Holdings) Co., Ltd. · Consumer Reports · Counterpoint Research · Samsung Electronics Co Ltd · Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. · Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Apple’s iPhone Ultra will use a 2 nm A20 Pro processor, 12 GB RAM and a 7.8‑inch OLED inner display, launching in September 2026. (leak and rendering reports)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Apple is urgently procuring DRAM for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra, with about US$1 billion worth of A20 Pro chips awaiting DRAM. (industry analyst Tim Culpan)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Apple captured 65 % of the premium‑smartphone market (price > $600) in H1 2026, with Samsung at 19 %. (Counterpoint Research study)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Counterpoint Research reported Apple’s 65 % share of the premium‑smartphone market in H1 2026. (Counterpoint Research)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Samsung DeX enables Galaxy and foldable Z‑series phones to run a PC‑like desktop environment on an external monitor. (product guide)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] BYD Electronic acquired Jabil’s Chengdu and Wuxi factories for $2.2 billion and now assembles iPhone chassis. (company announcement)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Samsung Electronics held a 39 % share of the global DRAM market in Q2 2026. (Counterpoint Research analysis)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Samsung shipped 24 % of global smartphones in Q2 2026, while Apple shipped 20 %. (Counterpoint Research data)