Apple MacBook Air Runs Into Major Shortages As Memory Crunch Delays Orders By Up To Six Weeks

The global memory shortage is now affecting Apple’s most popular Mac, with MacBook Air delivery estimates stretching into late August and September as demand from AI companies puts additional pressure on already tight memory supplies. 
 

TL;DR

 

• Apple is struggling to keep the MacBook Air in stock.
• Base models may not ship until late August, while some configurations could slip into September.
• Apple is raising prices and exploring memory supply from Chinese vendors.
• The shortage has already affected the Mac mini and Mac Studio.

 

Why The MacBook Air Is Running Short

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the global memory crunch has moved beyond Apple’s more niche desktop computers and reached the MacBook Air. Retail store sources reportedly said shipments are more constrained than they can ever recall, highlighting the severity of the current supply problem.

Apple’s online store appears to reflect the pressure. Base MacBook Air configurations are reportedly not scheduled to ship until the back half of August, while certain combinations of screen size, colour and memory may not arrive until early September.

Higher-memory options appear to be the most difficult to secure. That pattern supports reports that the shortage is tied directly to limited memory availability rather than a broader production slowdown.
 

 

Apple Raises Prices And Expands Its Supplier Search

Apple is working to reduce the impact by preparing to source memory from Chinese suppliers, at least for devices sold in China. The company has also raised prices across parts of the Mac lineup by hundreds of dollars as component costs continue to increase.

The MacBook Air reportedly moved from a starting price of $999 in March to $1,299 by June. Despite those increases, demand has remained strong enough for available units to sell quickly, leaving Apple with little room to rebuild inventory.

Apple is also said to be prioritising the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro. That decision may help the company manage limited component supplies while preparing for a possible M6 MacBook Pro refresh later this year.
 

Back-To-School Campaign Reflects Supply Pressure

The shortage has also affected Apple’s latest back-to-school promotion. Gurman reported that the campaign was delayed from June, while Apple’s marketing began placing greater emphasis on the base MacBook Pro instead of the MacBook Air.

Some promotional materials even include the warning, “MacBook Air subject to availability.” That is unusual for a product Apple typically promotes heavily during the education buying season.
 

 

What The Shortage Means For Buyers

For customers, the immediate impact is clear: fewer configurations, longer delivery times and higher prices. For Apple, the shortage shows how AI-driven demand for memory is now reaching beyond data centres and reshaping the availability of mainstream consumer hardware during a crucial seasonal sales period worldwide.