Apple has begun testing DRAM chips from China's state-backed ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) for devices sold in China, according to the Financial Times. CXMT is the world's fourth-largest DRAM maker with an ~11% market share, competing with Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron, and is central to Beijing's push for chip self-sufficiency. Apple has also lobbied Washington to allow broader use of CXMT parts, despite the US flagging the firm as a security risk. The move echoes a 2022 controversy when Apple faced political backlash for exploring Chinese memory suppliers. Analysts warn the situation mirrors the solar and EV industries, where state-backed capacity expansion eventually undercut foreign rivals on price.
