Ming-Chi Kuo disputed a report that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. is holding about US$1 billion of Apple 2nm chip work-in-process because of tight DRAM supply, saying Apple locks in processor output at least three months ahead based on the memory it expects to secure. He said TSMC's higher inventory days are more likely tied to the normal 2nm ramp and broader next-generation demand from customers including Qualcomm, MediaTek and Advanced Micro Devices, rather than a large Apple-specific stockpile. The memory shortage itself remains real as AI data-center demand pulls capacity away from consumer devices, lifting prices and lead times, with Mac Studio, Mac mini and MacBook Air already affected and observers warning that prolonged tightness could curb initial supply of the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and a foldable iPhone after Apple raised Mac and iPad prices in June.