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If you’ve been waiting for new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with Apple’s latest processors, you may have to wait a little longer. According to a new supply chain report released today, MacBook Pro models equipped with the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips may have been delayed yet again…
In late 2021, Apple unveiled its redesigned MacBook Pro lineup, which included M1 Pro and M1 Max chips. Following the June 2022 announcement of the M2 chip, rumours suggested that the MacBook Pro models would be updated with their respective M2 chips sometime in the fall.
This did not come to fruition, as Apple chose to delay the new MacBook Pro models until early 2023.
According to reports, Apple may have delayed the release of these machines even further. While the report does not provide a specific release date, it does state that the new MacBook Pro updates are likely to be “delayed once more.”
According to the same report, MacBook shipments are expected to drop significantly this quarter. According to supply chain sources, Apple is planning a 40% to 50% drop in MacBook shipments in Q1 2022 compared to Q4 2022. While a drop in shipments is to be expected, given that Q4 2022 was the lucrative holiday quarter, Apple typically sees a 10% to 20% drop.
The new MacBook Pros were widely expected to be released by Apple in March. However, if today’s report is correct, we will most likely have to wait until WWDC in June at the earliest. Apple will also be readying its first M3 Macs at that time.
If the reports forecast proves accurate, it will be interesting to see how Apple reacts. Even going from the holiday quarter to a regular quarter, that’s a significant drop in Mac sales.
The MacBook Pro delays are unlikely to be the primary reason for a significant drop in shipments. In reality, Apple is still feeling the effects of many consumers purchasing new Macs earlier than expected due to the pandemic and in the early days of the Apple SIlicon transition. There are some broader macroeconomic factors that may have an impact on Mac purchasing power this quarter.
Interestingly, Apple warned of a “significant drop” in Mac revenue in the holiday quarter. According to today’s report, this decline will continue into Q1 2023. Source