Apple's Favorite Bullying Tactic Just Died in China. It Could Cost You Hundreds on Your Next iPhone.

For years, Apple's (AAPL) most effective negotiating weapon against memory companies was to dual-source using a cheaper supplier. This playbook worked, at times to the detriment of the memory makers, who just didn't have any alternative to the type of volume Apple offered. The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and the subsequent rise in memory demand has now given leverage back to companies like Micron (MU), however, while Micron itself hasn't shied away from criticizing Apple's past behavior.

Apple recently raised the prices of some of its products, citing higher memory costs. This resulted in online discussions related to Apple's bullying attitude in the past, with some calling it natural justice. Apple management has been lobbying hard for favorable prices and even going to the U.S. government for permission to import cheaper memory from China. Micron has similarly lobbied for a ban on Chinese chips. While the company hasn't succeeded in getting a ban instated, it has still won in a way that many probably weren't expecting.

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Recent reports suggest that Chinese memory maker ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) has rejected Apple's proposals for a price reduction. Instead, CXMT quoted a price that is either similar to or even higher than that quoted by South Korean memory makers SK Hynix (SKHY) and Samsung. This now means that Apple does not need U.S. government approval, as the math behind buying memory from China doesn't check out anymore. For Micron, this is a win without requiring any extensive lobbying. While it does represent a short-term dent to the wallets of consumers and Apple fans, it is also a definite win for U.S. chip manufacturing, of which Micron is a big part.

The development also changes the margin math for all companies involved. The reason CXMT has been able to negotiate from a position of strength is that domestic Chinese companies like Huawei and Xiaomi (XIACY) have already taken up most of its capacity at high prices through long-term contracts. This means that for companies like Apple, the cheaper Chinese alternative card does not exist anymore — a structural shift that will have both short- and long-term consequences. In the near term, this hands SK Hynix and Samsung leverage over U.S. companies, helping them enjoy superior pricing power and maintain strong margins.

For Apple, this comes as a big loss, and the company cannot reduce its costs through the sheer size of its orders anymore. CEO Tim Cook specializes in negotiations like these, but he is signing off in September. With new CEO John Ternus focusing on hardware innovation, Apple has a lot to look forward to. However, if memory prices stay elevated, future returns will have to come through product innovation and not just an improved supply chain.

Apple designs and sells technology products and services around the world, with its main products including iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, and Apple TV. The company also generates revenue from services such as iCloud, AppleCare, streaming subscriptions, app sales, and licensing. Apple was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Cupertino, California.