Memory shortage forced the MacBook Air to become scarce and more expensive
- Global memory shortage due to AI demand
- Delivery times for MacBook Air have extended to a month
- The price of the model has increased from $999 to $1299 in a few months
- Apple is seeking Chinese memory suppliers to stabilize
At the beginning of 2024, the semiconductor market experienced a sharp increase in demand for high-performance memory modules, primarily HBM, which are required for building data centers serving artificial intelligence tasks. According to Bloomberg, obtained through journalist Mark Gurman, this situation has led to a redirecting of production capacities and a shortage of both DDR5 and SSD drives.
How the shortage has affected Apple
Apple, using the same components in its laptops, has faced extended delivery times for the MacBook Air up to a month. Retailers describe the current situation as the most challenging in the history of sales for this model. Even in promotional materials for students, the company indicated that the availability of the laptop now depends on stock availability – a focus that first appeared in the middle of the product's life cycle.
As a result, Apple was forced to revise the prices of the MacBook Air twice. After the release of the version with the M5 chip in March, the base price increased from $999 to $1099. In June, the price rose by another $200, reaching $1299, and the base SSD capacity was increased from 256 GB to 512 GB.
The price increase did not solve the availability issue. According to Gurman, customers ordering through the official Apple website are forced to wait for delivery until the end of the month. Retail representatives describe the supply constraints as unprecedented, and the laptops on the shelves are becoming increasingly scarce.
Among Apple's internal priorities is the release of the base 14-inch MacBook Pro model with the M5 chip, which is being prioritized over the planned fall update of the lineup to M6. This further delays the release of the new generation MacBook Air, which is expected to arrive later than originally scheduled.
To mitigate the consequences, Apple is considering purchasing memory from Chinese suppliers, at least for devices sold in the local market. This step may partially compensate for the shortage of components, but it does not guarantee the restoration of the full supply chain.
Experts warn that the memory shortage may persist in the coming years, leading to new supply constraints and further price increases for other Mac models. Analysts note that Apple will be forced to balance supply and demand, using both price adjustments and a reorientation of production capacities.
Source: 3DNews
