Ongoing global memory shortages are causing extended delivery times for higher-spec MacBook Air models, signalling broader supply issues across Apple’s Mac lineup that could persist into 2027.
Apple is facing longer waits for some MacBook Air configurations as a wider shortage of memory continues to disrupt its Mac line-up. According to 9to5Mac, online orders for most MacBook Air models now show delivery estimates of two to three weeks, while versions with 32GB of memory are listed at four to five weeks. In some cases, such as a 13-inch model with 32GB of memory, Apple is not offering in-store collection at all and is telling buyers to expect shipment only after about a month.
The pressure appears to be strongest on higher-memory variants. Ars Technica, which tracked hundreds of Mac configurations, reported that the 32GB MacBook Air models have slipped by two to three weeks compared with a month earlier, while base versions remain easier to obtain. Tom’s Hardware reported a similar pattern, saying entry-level Macs can still be collected the same day in some cases, but upgrades to unified memory are extending delivery times sharply. The reports point to a supply squeeze centred on RAM rather than on storage capacity.
The slowdown comes after Apple recently raised prices on parts of its Mac range, including a $200 increase on the MacBook Air M5 in June, according to the reporting cited by 9to5Mac and TechRadar. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has said Apple is also steering some customers towards the MacBook Pro, and store staff have described Air supply as more constrained than at any point in recent memory. TechRadar added that alternative retailers are sometimes offering shorter waits, while analysts quoted in its report warned the problem could persist well into 2027.
Apple has already been seeing disruption across other high-memory Macs. In April, reports from Tech Times and The Apple Post said several Mac mini and Mac Studio configurations had been removed from Apple’s US online store or marked unavailable, with some delivery estimates stretching to months. That broader pattern suggests the MacBook Air delays are part of a company-wide inventory problem, not an isolated glitch. With Apple’s finance chief Kevan Parekh warning in the latest earnings call that supply issues affecting iPhone, iPad and Mac could worsen in the current quarter, the shortages may remain a practical concern for buyers for some time.
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