The MacBook Air is running in short supply, despite a price hike

Apple's popular MacBook Air is facing a shortage despite a recent price increase. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that availability has significantly decreased across Apple's retail network. Some configurations show delivery estimates extending into late August, with some customized models potentially arriving as late as September.

This shortage occurs just weeks after Apple raised the price of the M5 MacBook Air from $1,099 to $1,299 in June. Buyers are now paying $200 more for the model they want, with delivery times stretching for several weeks. In response, Apple has delayed its back-to-school campaign and is giving the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro more attention in stores and marketing.

Some promotions even warn that the MacBook Air is "subject to availability." This issue is part of a broader supply chain pressure affecting Apple's products, including the Mac mini and Mac Studio. The memory crunch initially impacted these devices but has now reached the MacBook Air. Samsung, one of Apple's RAM suppliers, predicts that memory shortages will worsen in 2027 and 2028 due to AI data centers consuming more production.

Apple may announce another price hike if RAM and storage prices continue rising. To manage this, Apple introduced an Upgrade leasing program, allowing customers to split the cost of a Mac into monthly payments. However, this does not lower the price of a MacBook Air; it offers a softer way for Apple to sell increasingly expensive hardware.

Meanwhile, Samsung announced the Galaxy Tab S10 Lite, a budget-friendly alternative to the Galaxy Tab S10, featuring a 10.9-inch display and 600 nits of peak brightness.