Changxin Memory Technologies (CXMT), China’s emerging memory chip manufacturer, has rejected Apple’s request for discounted LPDDR5X memory pricing, demanding rates aligned with Samsung and SK Hynix. CXMT controls approximately 8% of the global DRAM market as of Q1 2026 and recently began mass-producing LPDDR5X memory with speeds reaching 8,533 Mbps and capacities ranging from 12GB to 32GB. The price of 12GB LPDDR5X chips has surged to around $145 driven by AI workload demand. CXMT, a state-backed Chinese semiconductor company on a US restrictions list, is actively lobbying for government approval to supply Apple. The Cupertino firm seeks to diversify its supply chain beyond the triopoly held by Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron, though this diversification into a geopolitically sensitive supplier introduces new risks.
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