Which Macs are suffering from shortages—and where are things getting worse?
Which Macs are suffering from shortages—and where are things getting worse?
Publish Date: 2026-05-08 11:00:00
Source Domain: arstechnica.com
Cook attributes the desktop shortages in part to demand from AI enthusiasts running models locally on Mac hardware—Apple Silicon’s low power usage, good performance, and unified memory pool accessible by both the CPU and GPU have made them popular among these buyers. Combine that with the fact that replacements for these computers are reportedly due soon and that Apple often winds down production of old models before introducing new ones, and you have a recipe for extreme shortages.
| MacBook Neo | 4/2026 days to ship | 5/2026 days to ship |
|---|---|---|
| 256GB, Silver | 15-23 | 15-23 |
| 512GB, Silver | 15-23 | 15-23 |
| 256GB, Blush | 15-23 | 15-23 |
| 512GB, Blush | 15-23 | 15-23 |
| 256GB, Citrus | 15-23 | 15-23 |
| 512GB, Indigo | 15-23 | 15-23 |
| 256GB, Silver | 15-23 | 15-23 |
| 512GB, Silver | 15-23 | 15-23 |
The situation with the MacBook Neo is different. For one, it remains much easier to get than either desktop; one ordered now should arrive within two or three weeks. This has generated headlines, but it’s the same shipping estimate Apple was giving a month ago. While I don’t have March data recorded, it appears to be the same shipping estimate Apple was giving two months ago, shortly after the Neo launched.
And unlike the desktops, the Neo remains readily available through third-party retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. Given that the Neo is a play for new Mac owners, it probably makes sense for Apple to prioritize other retailers over its own store. And if Apple isn’t keeping up with demand, it at least isn’t falling farther behind, as it is with the Mac mini and Studio.
That this situation has been so stable for weeks belies the sky-is-falling behind-the-scenes reports of unforeseen demand, component shortages, and falling profit margins that have circulated about the Neo in recent weeks. If those rumors are to be believed, Apple can’t possibly continue to offer the Neo at its current price, and it must therefore be considering cutting the $599/256GB model…
