Escalating Tensions: Apple and Micron in the Crosshairs of a Semiconductor Dispute
In the wake of Apple’s CEO attributing surging device prices to the actions of chip manufacturers, a significant backlash has emerged.
Engineers from Korean semiconductor giants and a myriad of consumers have rallied in support of Micron, intensifying the ongoing dispute.
A Fractured Tech Landscape
The global technological landscape has fragmented into distinct factions: one led by Apple, the other by Micron.
Notably, while major players such as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix have refrained from publicly commenting on this feud, their employees appear to harbor an affinity for their chipmaking counterparts.
Tim Cook initiated the verbal sparring in a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, asserting that spiraling prices for consumer electronics were a direct result of chip manufacturers “passing along exorbitant price increases.”
In response, Micron’s CEO, Sanjay Mehrotra, stated during an interview with CNBC on June 30 that “certain customers significantly depressed pricing in our industry.”
Although he sidestepped naming Apple directly, the remarks seemed unmistakably aimed at Apple’s historical practice of aggressively negotiating component prices, particularly during downturns in the memory chip market.
Employees at Korea’s semiconductor leaders haven’t hesitated to express their disdain toward Apple. A memory chip engineer from Samsung observed, “Sure, dynamic random access memory prices have soared, but Apple’s increases far surpass that.”
They elaborated that, historically, Apple exerted pressure on memory manufacturers to slash prices during market downturns.
However, the current landscape of heightened competition for memory resources has shifted this dynamic. A customer examines an iPhone 17 model at the Apple Store in Myeong-dong, central Seoul, on September 19, 2025.NEWS1
Conversely, an engineer from SK hynix attributed the impetus for escalated pricing to Apple’s insatiable quest for profit margins, contrasting it with other smartphone manufacturers.
“Apple could easily moderate its prices by conceding some margins. Yet, they remain obstinate,” the engineer remarked.
“Their tactics have remained unchanged; they request 100 units at $10 each, only to later tell you that they’ll pay $5.
Meanwhile, they retail the product for $100 or $200.” Engineers from Samsung Electronics traverse the semiconductor manufacturing line.
In light of this clash, Korean chipmakers have pledged to implement more stringent terms in their long-term contracts, as disclosed by executives from Samsung and SK hynix during recent earnings calls.
The broader Korean public is actively engaging in this unfolding narrative across online platforms and media comment sections, recognizing the pivotal role that Samsung and SK hynix play within the nation’s economy. Chip industry developments thus resonate profoundly within the socio-economic landscape.
In Asamo, Korea’s predominant iPhone user forum boasting 2.4 million members, Tim Cook’s declarations have not gone unnoticed.
One post particularly denounced Apple’s pivot towards sourcing chips from Chinese suppliers after previously capitalizing on Korean manufacturers.
Reports from Bloomberg indicate that Apple is negotiating with China’s CXMT and YMTC to procure memory chips, primarily intended for the Chinese market.
Nevertheless, some users remain steadfast in their allegiance to Apple, sharing opportunities for acquiring iPhones at reduced prices amid the recent price surges.
Source link: Koreajoongangdaily.com.
