'S Mark Gurman Reports That Customers Who Order the Laptop Today Won't Receive İt Until the End of Next Month'

Apple's MacBook Air is facing severe stock shortages on top of recent price hikes, with new orders now stretching into late August. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that customers who order the laptop today won't receive it until the end of next month. The company raised the MacBook Air's starting price from $1,099 to $1,299, yet availability has only worsened.

Apple's website and physical stores are now pushing the 14-inch MacBook Pro instead, an unusual move that Gurman says is deliberate. Some marketing materials even carry a direct "subject to availability" warning for the MacBook Air. The supply crunch stems from a global RAM shortage driven by surging memory demand from AI data centers.

Heavy investment in AI infrastructure is straining DRAM and other memory components, hitting PC makers with higher costs and supply headaches. Gurman also suggests Apple may be prioritizing MacBook Pro inventory ahead of a new M6-powered model, trying to clear existing stock first. While Apple beat Wall Street expectations in its latest earnings, the company warned investors that supply issues could pressure future financial results.

Further price increases remain possible as component costs climb. Apple's new Upgrade program, launched last week, is expected to boost demand for MacBooks and other products.