{"id":26687,"date":"2026-08-04T01:00:21","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T20:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=26687"},"modified":"2026-08-04T01:00:21","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T20:00:21","slug":"ram-crunch-is-causing-a-macbook-air-shortage-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=26687","title":{"rendered":"RAM crunch is causing a MacBook Air shortage: Report"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article\">\n<p>RAMageddon made the <a href=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/review\/macbook-air-m5-2026-tested\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\">Apple MacBook Air<\/a> more expensive. Now, it&#8217;s making it harder to buy.<\/p>\n<p>Bloomberg&#8217;s Mark Gurman reports that the <a href=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/category\/memory-crisis\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\">global memory chip shortage<\/a> is affecting supplies of the MacBook Air, Apple&#8217;s bestselling mid-range laptop. This comes roughly five weeks after Apple <a href=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/tech\/apple-price-increases-full-list\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\">raised the MacBook Air&#8217;s price<\/a> by $200 because of the same circumstances.<\/p>\n<div class=\"flex mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-3xl font-sans text-lg leading-normal md:text-xl md:leading-7\">\n        <span class=\"font-bold text-primary-400\">SEE ALSO:<\/span><br \/>\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/tech\/apple-price-increases-full-list\" class=\"flex items-center text-secondary-300\"><br \/>\n            <span class=\"ml-1\">Apple price increases arrive: How much MacBooks and iPads will cost you now<\/span><br \/>\n            <svg class=\"ml-1 w-4 h-4 font-normal fill-current\"><use href=\"http:\/\/mashable.com\/images\/icons\/spritemap.svg#sprite-arrow-right-thin\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n        <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<p>&#8220;Retail store sources say Apple is struggling to keep the laptop in stock and that shipments of new units are more constrained than they can ever recall,&#8221; Gurman writes in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/newsletters\/2026-08-02\/apple-subscriptions-macbook-air-shortages-apple-to-make-glasses-health-device-msbvajjp#selection-1885.199-1885.351\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">Aug. 2 edition<\/a> of his Power On newsletter. He later adds: &#8220;From what I\u2019ve heard, the MacBook Air shortage is indeed tied to the ongoing memory crunch.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Evidence of a possible MacBook Air shortage is emerging in Apple&#8217;s online storefront. As Gurman points out, all configurations of the current 13- and 15-inch M5 MacBook Air are backordered there to as late as early September \u2014\u00a0more than a month out. The more RAM, the longer the wait.<\/p>\n<section x-data=\"window.newsletter({ isDeal: false })\" x-init=\"init()\" aria-label=\"Newsletter Sign-Up\" class=\"relative invisible my-12 mx-auto w-full max-w-3xl md:my-16 ziff-component accent-cut-for-gradient-bg accent-cut-border-for-gradient-bg bg-gradient-fuchsia-secondary p-[2px]\">\n<p>\n            <span class=\"text-gradient-fuchsia-secondary\">Mashable Light Speed<\/span>\n        <\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"eloquent-imagery-image\">\n<div class=\"flex justify-center\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"w-full\" src=\"https:\/\/helios-i.mashable.com\/imagery\/articles\/021UujQt3mt2FFqQzwuna2A\/images-1.fill.size_2000x1255.v1785778535.png\" alt=\"shipping times for the m5 macbook air\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1255\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/helios-i.mashable.com\/imagery\/articles\/021UujQt3mt2FFqQzwuna2A\/images-1.fill.size_800x502.v1785778535.png 800w, https:\/\/helios-i.mashable.com\/imagery\/articles\/021UujQt3mt2FFqQzwuna2A\/images-1.fill.size_1400x879.v1785778535.png 1400w, https:\/\/helios-i.mashable.com\/imagery\/articles\/021UujQt3mt2FFqQzwuna2A\/images-1.fill.size_2000x1255.v1785778535.png 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px\"\/><\/p><\/div>\n<p>\n            <span class=\"normal-case text-gray-1000\">Estimated shipping dates for various configurations of the 13-inch M5 MacBook Air as of Aug. 3, 2026. The 32GB variant of the 15-inch model was also delayed until mid-September.<\/span><br \/>\n            <span class=\"text-gray-600 credit\">Credit: Apple \/ Mashable composite<\/span>\n        <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>At the time of writing, third-party retailers like <a href=\"https:\/\/zdcs.link\/QWJd0m?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=article&amp;module=content_body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Amazon&amp;object_type=article&amp;object_uuid=021UujQt3mt2FFqQzwuna2A&amp;short_url=QWJd0m&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fmashable.com%2Farticle-route-prefix%2Ftech%2Fmacbook-air-shortage-global-memory-crisis\" rel=\"sponsored\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">Amazon<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/zdcs.link\/QqO440?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=article&amp;module=content_body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Best%20Buy&amp;object_type=article&amp;object_uuid=021UujQt3mt2FFqQzwuna2A&amp;short_url=QqO440&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fmashable.com%2Farticle-route-prefix%2Ftech%2Fmacbook-air-shortage-global-memory-crisis\" rel=\"sponsored\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">Best Buy<\/a> were advertising one- to seven-day shipping for all of their in-stock MacBook Airs (depending on the size, color, storage, and memory options). However, that could change as their inventories dwindle.<\/p>\n<p>Bloomberg&#8217;s Gurman further reports that Apple is pushing the $1,999 base <a href=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/review\/apple-macbook-pro-m5-2025\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\">M5 MacBook Pro<\/a> in favor of the Air as part of its <a href=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/tech\/apple-back-to-school-2026-sale-free-gift-card\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\">back-to-school offer<\/a>, which was delayed this year from June to July. Moreover, some of the company&#8217;s ads for the promotion reportedly include a &#8220;MacBook Air subject to availability&#8221; disclaimer. Mashable could not independently verify this, though a screenshot of the ad was <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DylanMcD8\/status\/2082207887535808720\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">posted on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitterEmbed twitter-tweet\"><p>\n    <a class=\"text-gray-600\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DylanMcD8\/status\/2082207887535808720\" title=\"(Opens in a new tab) (opens in a new window)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n        This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.<br \/>\n    <\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>As Mashable previously reported, Apple raised its MacBook and iPad prices in late June due to increased component costs related to the global memory shortage (aka &#8220;RAMageddon&#8221;). A surge in AI data center construction has made RAM and SSD storage chips scarcer, thus making other laptops and consumer tech devices <a href=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/tech\/ramageddon-every-tech-price-increase-2026\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\">more expensive<\/a>. In the company&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/quote\/AAPL\/earnings\/AAPL-Q3-2026-earnings_call-658553.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">Q3 earnings call<\/a> last week, outgoing CEO Tim Cook likened the phenomenon to &#8220;a 100-year flood.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>In addition to implementing price increases, Apple has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnet.com\/tech\/computing\/disappearing-macs-global-ram-crisis-likely-hits-apple\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">removed some configurations<\/a> of its mac Mini and Mac Studio desktops from its online store amid RAMageddon. The company is reportedly lobbying the Trump administration for approval to buy memory components from a blacklisted Chinese chipmaker as a means of some relief, per the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/d72a25e2-7bde-4aa9-bd8d-0c4f3d6cb2cb?syn-25a6b1a6=1\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">Financial Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Yet so far, at least, RAMageddon hasn&#8217;t decimated Apple&#8217;s bottom line. On the same earnings call, Cook said Macs had their &#8220;best June quarter yet,&#8221; with revenue for the category jumping 29 percent year-over-year. The new budget MacBook Neo &#8220;has been especially popular,&#8221; Cook noted, though the MacBook Air remains &#8220;the world&#8217;s most popular laptop,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<section class=\"mx-auto max-w-7xl\">\n<\/section><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>RAMageddon made the Apple MacBook Air more expensive. Now, it&#8217;s making it harder to buy. Bloomberg&#8217;s Mark Gurman reports that the global memory chip shortage is affecting supplies of the MacBook Air, Apple&#8217;s bestselling mid-range laptop. This comes roughly five weeks after Apple raised the MacBook Air&#8217;s price by $200 because of the same circumstances&#8230;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":26688,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/helios-i.mashable.com\/imagery\/articles\/021UujQt3mt2FFqQzwuna2A\/hero-image.fill.size_1200x675.v1785783754.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26687","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-real-trending-viral-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26687","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=26687"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26687\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/26688"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=26687"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=26687"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=26687"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}