Kuo: Apple Silicon MacBook Shipments to Be Cut in First Half of 2022 Due to Component Shortages and Other Factors

Shipments of Apple Silicon MacBooks will be cut in the first half of next year due to component shortages, a decline in working from home demand, and the introduction of a redesigned MacBook Air in the third quarter of 2022, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo's latest investor note, seen by MacRumors.

macbook pro vs macbook air
From the note:

We forecast that the shipment of Apple Silicon processor-based MacBook models will be cut by approximately 15% in 1H22 and attribute it to three reasons: 1) component shortages, 2) structural demand change in the post- COVID-19 era, and 3) product transition between legacy and new models.

According to Kuo, the shortage of components relates primarily to a continuing lack of power management integrated circuits, for which delivery times currently extend as far out as 52 weeks.

This shortage will hit all PC brands, but is said to coincide with the capacity expansion of Unimicron, one of the main IC providers in Taiwan and the sole supplier for the Apple silicon ABF substrate. As a result, Unimicron is expected to aggressively secure non-Apple ABF substrate orders to cut risk.

MacBook shipments are also expected to be impacted by the change in demand structure in the post-COVID-19 era will, with the number of people working from home declining and purchasing power falling due to inflation.

Kuo believes a new redesigned ‌MacBook Air‌ powered by next-generation ‌Apple Silicon‌ will enter mass production in the early third quarter of 2022, making the second half of next year a product transition period that will have an impact on MacBook orders.

Apple is still expected to launch redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models before the end of this year, likely to be announced via a digital event in October or November.

The latest macOS Monterey beta references two new built-in display resolutions that likely correspond to the upcoming 14-inch and 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ models. The new display resolutions are listed as "3456 x 2234 Retina" and "3024 x 1964 Retina," which would represent an increase in pixel density for a sharper image if the displays are the expected sizes.

Related Roundups: MacBook Pro, MacBook Air
Related Forums: MacBook Pro, MacBook Air

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Top Rated Comments

cocoua Avatar
42 months ago
Waiting for M2/M1X is being the slowest time of my live.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
hot-gril Avatar
42 months ago
Read the title twice as "cut in half" – phew.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
icymountain Avatar
42 months ago

Read the title twice as "cut in half" – phew.
Yes, but if you read twice "cut in half" and sum the two halves, you get normal shipment. Problem solved. ?
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
wanha Avatar
42 months ago
These types of reports are always so myopic, because they focus on Apple in isolation.

In the big picture, Apple is the King Kong of component customers in the world, which is to say they get preferential treatment over all other customers, because every component manufacturer wants Apple as their customer.

So although Apple is also affected by component shortages, they are very likely to be the least impacted out of all the manufacturers out there.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
42 months ago
Hopefully, the new Macs are not going to be delayed.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macar00n Avatar
42 months ago

Another so called component shortages, had no troubles getting a iPad and iPhone on launch day.
Yeah sheeple, don't believe there is a component shortage just because every manufacturer across all industries has been reporting so for like a year. Supporting evidence: this one guy was not affected by it.

This is how I know global warming isn't real - some days I go outside and it's cold
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)