Apple says supply constraints will worsen significantly in its fiscal fourth quarter, putting iPhone, Mac, and iPad availability under greater pressure just as the company enters its usual September product-launch window.
The warning came during Apple’s July 30 fiscal Q3 2026 earnings call, detailed by 9to5Mac and corroborated by Apple’s investor presentation. CFO Kevan Parekh said the company expects the impact of supply constraints to rise sequentially from the June quarter, alongside a foreign-exchange headwind expected to reduce reported revenue growth by roughly 2.5 percentage points.
Apple still forecasts total revenue growth of 9% to 11% year over year for the quarter ending in September. But the guidance makes clear that demand is not the limiting factor: Apple expects high iPhone demand, while constrained supply and currency movements cap the revenue it can recognize.
The pressure is increasingly tied to component availability and cost, particularly memory. Apple had already flagged industry supply-demand imbalances involving advanced semiconductors, NAND storage, and DRAM in its March-quarter filing. Axios reported that Apple expects memory costs to rise again in the September quarter after paying substantially more during the June period.
That matters beyond Apple’s own hardware. A company with Apple’s purchasing power signaling less supply-chain flexibility is a reminder that Windows PC OEMs, system builders, and enterprise buyers may be facing the same underlying component market — usually with fewer options to absorb shortages or negotiate pricing.
Apple has already raised prices on some Macs and iPads, according to the Associated Press. It has not announced a broad iPhone price increase, though the September quarter will test how much of the cost increase can be managed through pricing, product mix, and supply allocation.
The numbers underline an important distinction for IT buyers: this is not a demand slump or a routine inventory correction. Apple is indicating that component and production constraints may prevent it from meeting all of the demand it expects across its highest-volume hardware lines.
Apple’s next quarterly results will show whether its supply chain can keep pace with the September launch cycle. Until then, enterprise procurement teams planning large hardware refreshes may want to treat memory availability and pricing as a live risk rather than a settled post-shortage problem.
Apple still forecasts total revenue growth of 9% to 11% year over year for the quarter ending in September. But the guidance makes clear that demand is not the limiting factor: Apple expects high iPhone demand, while constrained supply and currency movements cap the revenue it can recognize.
Memory Costs Are Becoming a Consumer-PC Problem
The pressure is increasingly tied to component availability and cost, particularly memory. Apple had already flagged industry supply-demand imbalances involving advanced semiconductors, NAND storage, and DRAM in its March-quarter filing. Axios reported that Apple expects memory costs to rise again in the September quarter after paying substantially more during the June period.That matters beyond Apple’s own hardware. A company with Apple’s purchasing power signaling less supply-chain flexibility is a reminder that Windows PC OEMs, system builders, and enterprise buyers may be facing the same underlying component market — usually with fewer options to absorb shortages or negotiate pricing.
Apple has already raised prices on some Macs and iPads, according to the Associated Press. It has not announced a broad iPhone price increase, though the September quarter will test how much of the cost increase can be managed through pricing, product mix, and supply allocation.
Strong Results Do Not Remove the Constraint
The supply warning accompanied a strong June-quarter report. Apple recorded $109.42 billion in revenue, up 16% year over year, and net income of $29.79 billion, up 27%. iPhone, Mac, and Services each set June-quarter records, while iPad was the principal product category that did not grow.The numbers underline an important distinction for IT buyers: this is not a demand slump or a routine inventory correction. Apple is indicating that component and production constraints may prevent it from meeting all of the demand it expects across its highest-volume hardware lines.
The September Window Is the Next Test
For Windows users, the immediate impact is indirect, but the signal is worth watching. Persistent DRAM and NAND cost pressure can show up as higher laptop prices, fewer aggressive discounts, altered configurations, or longer lead times — especially for higher-memory machines and premium notebooks.Apple’s next quarterly results will show whether its supply chain can keep pace with the September launch cycle. Until then, enterprise procurement teams planning large hardware refreshes may want to treat memory availability and pricing as a live risk rather than a settled post-shortage problem.
References
- Primary source: 9to5mac.com
Published: 2026-07-30T22:19:59+00:00
Apple warns supply constraints will increase ‘significantly’ next quarter - 9to5Mac
Apple is bracing for a tough September quarter, with growing supply pressures affecting its most important products. Here are the details.9to5mac.com - Related coverage: apple.com
Apple reports second quarter results - Apple
Apple today announced financial results for its fiscal 2026 second quarter ended March 28, 2026.www.apple.com
