Even if Apple announces a new MacBook Air at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on Monday, you might not be able to buy one right away. COVID-19 shutdowns at Chinese facilities that build MacBooks, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, might result in a restricted supply of fresh gadgets or a later release date.
Because of China’s zero-COVID policy, manufacturers that build Apple goods, such as Pegatron and Quanta, have been forced to close temporarily. Despite the fact that China has begun to ease some of the mobility restrictions it imposed in March, certain Shanghai areas remain under lockdown.
If Quanta’s production capacity recovers to pre-lockdown levels, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo anticipates Apple to ship around six to seven million new MacBook Airs before the third quarter of this year. He also thinks there will be more shipments of the new MacBook Air than of the 14- to 16-inch MacBook Pros, because the new MacBook Air will be shipped by both Quanta and Foxconn, but the MacBook Pro will only be sent by Quanta. Due to closures and part shortages, Apple has put new MacBook Pro orders on hold until late July.
Both Gurman and Ming-Chi Kuo believe that the next MacBook Air won’t be available in a variety of colors. It’s more likely to have a few basic hues, such as space grey and silver, as well as two new colors, including a dark blue and a “champagne-like gold.” The MacBook Air, according to Gurman, will include a 13-inch display, two USB-C ports, MagSafe charging capabilities, and Touch ID. It’s unlikely to include a Touch Bar, and it might even have a notch like the MacBook Pro.
In terms of a new MacBook Pro, Gurman claims that Apple originally planned to deliver a “faster” 13-inch model around the same time as the Air. However, owing to COVID-related lockdowns in China, this deadline has apparently been pushed back.
