Apple has been testing memory chips from China's CXMT across product lines including iPhones and MacBooks to ease a component shortage driven by the AI boom, the Wall Street Journal reported. The talks are at an early stage, with Reuters noting it could not independently verify the report and that Apple and CXMT did not respond to requests for comment.
The talks between Apple and CXMT, China's largest chipmaker by market value, are aimed at using the components in some devices sold in China, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Apple is reportedly hoping for a sign-off from the White House before proceeding further with the arrangement.
The reported testing appears driven by supply pressures. The Wall Street Journal said laptop makers HP and Acer have already started using CXMT memory chips in devices sold outside the U.S. to address similar shortages.
There are limits to how far Apple could go with CXMT components. Export lawyer Kevin Wolf of Akin Gump told the Wall Street Journal that Apple can buy off-the-shelf CXMT components and negotiate on price, but it cannot commission chips designed to its own specifications, according to MacRumors.
Political pressure adds another complication. A bipartisan group of senators led by Chuck Schumer has asked Apple to rule out using Chinese memory entirely, a request that could conflict with the company's reported exploration of CXMT as a supply option.
