Apple in Trouble: MacBook Air Delayed by a Month
Global memory shortage drives up prices and extends delivery times, while innovative headphones could be unveiled as early as September.
Global memory shortage drives up prices and extends delivery times, while innovative headphones could be unveiled as early as September.
Apple laptop customers are facing unexpected challenges. Attempting to order a MacBook Air M5 with 32GB of RAM and 1TB SSD directly from Apple's website resulted in a projected delivery date of September 14, 2026, which is more than a month's wait for a product that is already on the market.
According to a report by Bloomberg's journalist Mark Gurman, shipments of new units are "more constrained than anyone can remember." The main culprit is a global shortage of memory chips affecting the entire consumer electronics industry, and Apple is no exception.
As early as June 2026, Apple raised prices across the entire MacBook lineup. The MacBook Air M5 saw an increase of about $200, while the more expensive Air and MacBook Pro models saw even larger hikes. Former Apple CEO Tim Cook had warned about this earlier this year in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, stating that "price increases are inevitable."
The supply issue is particularly pronounced at a time when students and teachers are buying new devices for school. Consumers have noticed that Apple's back-to-school advertising now includes the disclaimer "MacBook Air availability subject to stock." To mitigate the shortage, Apple is reportedly also considering a request to Congress for permission to purchase memory chips from Chinese companies ChangXin Memory Technologies Inc. (CXMT) and Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. (YMTC), which are currently on the blacklist.
Even the most affordable member of the family, the MacBook Neo, has not escaped price increases. The base model with 256GB of storage now starts at $699, up from the previous $599. The version with 512GB and Touch ID has risen to $799 from $699, bringing it closer to the MacBook Air's price range.
Fortunately for consumers, third-party retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H still have MacBook Air stock, often at pre-increase prices. However, it's uncertain how long these supplies will last, given that prices are not expected to drop anytime soon.
While grappling with logistical issues, Apple is also preparing new products. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported on Sunday, August 3, 2026, that Apple could release AirPods equipped with cameras as early as this year. This is significantly earlier than previous announcements that mentioned 2027.
The prediction is based on code found in beta versions of iOS 27, which points to a device with the codename B790. This is reportedly a version of the other camera-equipped AirPods with the codename B798, with B790 being further along in development. The cameras would not be used for taking photos or videos but would function as visual sensors that would provide Siri with context about the user's surroundings, analyzing images and providing information based on what is seen.
Bloomberg reported in June 2026 that the camera-equipped AirPods are envisioned as Apple's first wearable focused on artificial intelligence. If the announcement happens, the most likely timing is September 2026, when Apple traditionally holds its fall event to unveil new products, including major updates to the AirPods line.
