MacBook Air Faces Shortages as Apple Shifts Buyers to MacBook Pro
Arkadiy Andrienko
Apple's MacBook Air inventory is tightening just weeks after the M5 refresh, with some configurations now expected only at the end of August or in early September. The shortage is unfolding amid an ongoing memory crunch.
According to Mark Gurman, Apple is trying to source memory from Chinese suppliers for devices sold in China. He also said the company is prioritizing sales of the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro, in part to make room for an M6 refresh coming this fall.
From what I've heard, the MacBook Air shortage is indeed tied to the ongoing memory crunch. Apple has been working to alleviate the issue by preparing to source memory from Chinese suppliers, at least for devices sold in that country. It's also been raising prices by a couple hundred dollars across the lineup. And I've heard the company is prioritizing sales of the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro, in part to clear the way for an M6 refresh coming this fall. I don't expect a new MacBook Air until a bit later.
The shortage has also reached the Mac mini and Mac Studio. In the case of Mac Studio, Apple even cut the maximum RAM to 96 GB, which suggests the problem is affecting more than one product line.
Apple's back-to-school promotion was delayed from June for the same reason, and its marketing materials now include the warning: "MacBook Air subject to availability." That makes the current delays stand out even more for a model that was refreshed only a few months ago.
Will Apple restore normal MacBook Air supply quickly, or keep steering buyers toward the more expensive 14-inch MacBook Pro?
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