US Stock Market Move | Apple Inc. (AAPL.US) falls over 2% as surging memory chip costs and product price hikes dampen demand; reportedly cuts component orders for iPhone 18 Pro series

On Friday, Apple Inc. (AAPL.US) shares moved lower, falling over 2% to $333.12 as of press time. According to a media report on Friday citing people familiar with the matter, Apple Inc. has notified some suppliers to cut component production for the new iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, affected by surging memory chip costs and product price increases. The report said Apple Inc. has turned cautious on its shipment outlook since early September, with some component orders in October cut by at least 15% from the original plan. However, the media outlet was unable to independently verify the report, and Apple Inc. did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Apple Inc. last month launched the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and the foldable phone Duo. The two Pro models start at $1,199 and $1,299, respectively, both up $100 from the previous generation. As tech giants aggressively procure memory chips for AI data center construction, global chip supply has tightened and prices have continued to rise, further driving up production costs for smartphones and personal computers. Apple Inc. already raised prices for some iPad and MacBook models in June this year due to rising memory chip costs. Demand for Apple Inc. devices has slowed somewhat since late August, though this may also be related to the company's adjusted iPhone launch schedule. At the same time, as Apple Inc. continues to add on-device AI features, its demand for high-performance memory chips is also rising, and cost pressure may continue to affect product pricing.