The rising DRAM costs are what ultimately forced Apple to increase the prices of its Macs , but the positive aspect was that various models were still available to purchase. Unfortunately, the Cupertino giant’s worst nightmare has come to pass because the MacBook Air is reportedly in severe shortage, and while Apple attempts to tackle this problem, it’s focusing on selling as many base 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro units as it can to make sufficient room for the M6 model.
Assuming the MacBook Neo didn’t materialize, the MacBook Air would continue to be Apple’s most popular portable Mac. Unfortunately, this particular machine may not even attain the title of the second most popular Mac because Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has some disappointing news to share. Apple is trying to source memory from Chinese suppliers to enable timely shipments again, but it appears this move will only be applicable to the models sold locally.
“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.”
With the M6 MacBook Pro reportedly arriving later this year, Apple has instead turned its focus toward shipping out as many 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro units as possible, suggesting that it has also asked its supply chain to concentrate production on the more expensive portable Mac. For those who don’t know, the M6 upgrade will be exclusive to the 14-inch refresh, and if consumers are eagerly waiting for the M6 Pro and M6 Max versions, those won’t be launching .
Instead, Apple is expected to introduce the M7 Pro and M7 Max MacBook Pro lineup in the second half of 2027, with the M6 MacBook Air also slated for a launch next year. Coming back to the shortages, Gurman mentions that Apple’s back-to-school promotion was delayed from June because of the very memory shortage that started the industry chaos. Industry watchers expect this shortage to persist until 2028, meaning that Apple’s troubles will likely continue.
“If you need more evidence of how constrained MacBook Air inventory has become, look no further than Apple’s latest back-to-school promotion, which was delayed from June because of the memory shortage. Across its website and retail stores, Apple is prominently steering customers toward the base MacBook Pro instead of the Air — something it has rarely, if ever, done. In some marketing materials, it even includes a warning: “MacBook Air subject to availability.”
If you need an M5 MacBook Air immediately, luck is on your side, for now, because Amazon is not only offering timely shipments of the 13-inch and 15-inch models, but you can get select configurations and colors at $100 off. Currently, the smaller M5 MacBook Air is going for $1,199 while the larger portable Mac is listed for $1,399 .
News Source: Bloomberg
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