Apple Ramping Up New MacBook Air Production in July [Update]

macbook air 2010 profile

According to Digitimes, Apple's notebook supply chain will "run in full gear starting" in July in order to meet production of the new MacBook Air models. Apple is said to be expecting to take delivery of over 8 million* MacBook Airs in the 3rd quarter. According to Digitimes, this represents a doubling over the previous quarter.

Shipments of parts and components for MacBook lineups totaled an equivalent of 2.2-2.4 million MacBooks in June, and orders for July are likely to top 2.7-2.8 million units, said the sources, noting that the increase is in line with Apple's previous strategy to ramp up deliveries prior to the launch of new products.

The sources also reaffirmed what has been expected -- that the new MacBook Air will feature OS X Lion and support for the Thunderbolt interface.

Note that this contradicts previous rumors that Apple had already ramped up MacBook Air production. The July ramp-up seems more likely if you are to believe that the MacBook Air will ship with OS X Lion. OS X Lion has not yet seen a final Golden Master build yet. In order to pre-install OS X Lion on MacBook Airs, Apple would presumably have to hit this milestone. Note that separately we have heard that Apple is tentatively targeting the 3rd week of July for the MacBook Air launch, but that this date could always change.

*Update: Digitimes' 8 million MacBook Air Q3 estimate is questionable since this represents twice as many Macs (all kinds) Apple shipped in Q2 2011, casting doubt on the specifics of this report.

Related Roundup: MacBook Air
Related Forum: MacBook Air

Popular Stories

apple store down feature

Here's Why the Apple Store is Going Down

Thursday November 27, 2025 1:01 pm PST by
Apple's online store is going down for a few hours on a rolling country-by-country basis right now, but do not get your hopes up for new products. Apple takes its online store down for a few hours ahead of Black Friday every year to tease/prepare for its annual gift card offer with the purchase of select products. The store already went down and came back online in Australia and New Zealand, ...
Apple Foldable Thumb

Foldable iPhone to Debut These Three Breakthrough Features

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:09 am PST by
Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in fall 2026, and it's shaping up to include three standout features that could set it apart from the competition. The book-style foldable will reportedly feature an industry-first 24-megapixel under-display camera built into the inner display, according to a recent JP Morgan equity research report. That...
streaming black friday 2025

Black Friday Streaming Deals Include Big Savings on Disney+, Hulu, Apple TV, and More

Monday November 24, 2025 8:03 am PST by
We've been focusing on deals on physical products over the past few weeks, but Black Friday is also a great time of year to purchase a streaming membership. Some of the biggest services have great discounts for new and select returning members this week, including Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a...
iPhone Pocket Short

iPhone Pocket is Now Completely Sold Out Worldwide

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:16 am PST by
Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone. However, it is now completely sold out in all countries where it was released. iPhone Pocket became available to order on Apple's online store starting Friday, November 14, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, ...
streaming black friday 2025

Best Black Friday Streaming Deals - Save Big on Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, and More

Thursday November 27, 2025 1:14 pm PST by
We've been focusing on deals on physical products over the past few weeks, but Black Friday is also a great time of year to purchase a streaming membership. Some of the biggest services have great discounts for new and select returning members this week, including Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When...
General Apps Messages Redux

Singapore Orders Changes to iMessage by December

Tuesday November 25, 2025 6:39 am PST by
Singapore has ordered Apple to block or filter messages on iMessage that impersonate government agencies, requiring the company to implement new anti-spoofing protections by December as part of efforts to curb rising online scams, the Straits Times reports. Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that it had issued an Implementation Directive to Apple under the Online Criminal Harms...
General Black Friday Deals 25 Red Green

The 30+ Best Black Friday Apple Deals on AirPods, iPads, MacBooks, and More

Thursday November 27, 2025 6:46 am PST by
Black Friday is finally here, and as always this will be the best time of the year to shop for great deals, including popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small...
General Black Friday Deals 25 Red

Apple Black Friday Deals Available Now on AirPods, iPads, Accessories, and More

Friday November 21, 2025 8:48 am PST by
We're only a few days away from Black Friday, which will take place on Friday, November 28 in 2025. As always, this will be the best time of the year to shop for great deals, including popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When...

Top Rated Comments

KillerTree Avatar
188 months ago
I hope the new Air has a backlit keyboard.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
racer1441 Avatar
188 months ago
Backlit keyboard is cool but I'd really like to have optical audio out in the headphone jack.

I'd also like a pony.

Ponies poo alot more than you'd think. Stick with the Air.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Cheerwino Avatar
188 months ago
Backlit keyboard is cool but I'd really like to have optical audio out in the headphone jack.

I'd also like a pony.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
hotcocoa Avatar
188 months ago
I hope there is an option for a matte screen.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nagromme Avatar
188 months ago
Can’t wait. By the way, I know there are people (like me!) who are disappointed that the Air lost the lighted keyboard (for size, price, power, who knows). But there’s a test you should try on a lighted-keyboard Mac sometime:

1. Darken the room completely. Even turn the screen itself down almost to off.

2. Turn the key lights off completely. You won’t be able to see the letters anymore! When unlit they are gray (not even white) and that just can’t be seen well on a black key in near-darkness.

3. BUT notice that you can still see the silver aluminum spaces between the keys just fine. The key-shapes are clearly visible, because metallic silver reflects even a little bit of screen light.

The good news: the current Airs don’t have gray-on-black letters like the ones on the lighted keyboards. They have metallic silver letters, and are MUCH easier to see than the old keys when unlit.

And they achieve visibility with no power usage, so in some ways it’s an improvement. Just not as cool :)
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SqB Avatar
188 months ago
so u'd like to see like colored/tinted aluminum? or abandon the aluminum altogether for another material that allows for diff colors?

diff colors might be fresh. ..

Probably not too likely from a company who's CEO wears the same clothes every day.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)