Bloomberg has reported that the global memory shortage has now reached Apple's mainstream notebook Macs. When TechCrunch checked the US Apple Store on August 2, 2026, MacBook Air delivery estimates had stretched to late August for many configurations, and into September for some. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman also reported that retail inventory has become tighter than before. The fact that delivery times kept slipping even after Apple moved to a $200 price increase in June illustrates how difficult it is to balance supply and demand through pricing alone.
That said, Apple has not officially attributed the current shipping delays to any specific component. The only thing the company has acknowledged is that surging memory and storage prices prompted the June price revision. The causal link between the MacBook Air shortage and the memory crunch is based on Bloomberg's reporting, so the possibility remains that other constraints—such as the M5 chip or logistics—are compounding the issue. Even with that caveat, the numbers in the DRAM market clearly reflect the harsh environment facing consumer PCs.
From $1,099 and $1,299 to September Shipping
The M5 MacBook Air launched in March 2026 at $1,099 for the 13-inch model and $1,299 for the 15-inch model. Standard memory remained at 16GB, while SSD storage doubled from 256GB to 512GB. However, on June 25, Apple raised the starting price of the 13-inch model to $1,299—a $200 increase, or 18.2%, for the same 16GB/512GB configuration.
| Timing | 13-inch Starting Price | Standard Configuration | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2025, M4 | $999 | 16GB/256GB | 16GB became standard |
| March 2026, M5 | $1,099 | 16GB/512GB | SSD capacity doubled |
| June 25, 2026, price revision | $1,299 | 16GB/512GB | $200 price increase |
| August 2, 2026 | $1,299 | 16GB/512GB | Mostly late August, some September shipping |
Compared to the M4 launch in 2025, the price is $300 higher, but standard SSD capacity has doubled in that time. For measuring the price changes driven by the memory shortage, the $200 increase since the M5 launch offers a closer comparison. Under Apple's current configuration, upgrading to 24GB adds $200, and 32GB adds $400, meaning users who need more capacity are more exposed to memory market fluctuations.
The M5 features 153GB/s of memory bandwidth, a 28% improvement over the M4. The design in which the CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine share the same unified memory is efficient for running large on-device AI models. On the other hand, since memory cannot be expanded after purchase, memory capacity directly affects the price at the time of purchase. In a situation where inventory varies by configuration, the choice of capacity can also affect delivery times.
HBM: 22% of Wafer Input for 9% of Bits
HBM, the high-bandwidth memory demanded by AI data centers, is not a separate market unrelated to PC-grade DRAM. Both compete for the same manufacturers' clean rooms, production equipment, and wafer input. Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron are prioritizing the more profitable HBM and high-capacity server DRAM, making it harder to increase supply for general-purpose PCs and smartphones.
According to TrendForce estimates, HBM will consume 22% of total DRAM wafer input in 2026, while accounting for only 9% of supplied bits. Because HBM dies are large and involve stacking multiple layers of DRAM, the total bit volume that can be brought to market from the same wafer area is smaller. By 2027, these figures are expected to rise to 30% of wafer input and 13% of bits, meaning that as AI-related demand grows, the volume constraints on conventional DRAM will intensify.
Prices already reflect this gap. TrendForce forecasts that contract prices for conventional DRAM rose 93–98% quarter-on-quarter in Q1 2026, with a further 58–63% increase expected in Q2. For low-power DRAM used in smartphones and thin PCs, the average selling price of LPDDR5X is projected to rise 78–83% in Q2. Apple has not disclosed the memory specification or supplier for the M5 MacBook Air, so these figures cannot be equated directly with the price of the components used, but they do serve as an indicator of the pricing environment in the low-power DRAM market.
Concentration on the supply side also narrows Apple's options. In Q1 2026, DRAM revenue share was 38.5% for Samsung, 28.8% for SK hynix, and 22.4% for Micron, with the top three combined reaching 89.7%. Even a large-scale buyer like Apple cannot secure volume simply by shifting orders to another major supplier if all three of these companies are directing capacity toward AI applications.
Company-Wide Inventory Nearly Doubles, Mac Revenue Up 28.7%
Apple has not simply been a bystander to the shortage. As of June 27, 2026, the company's inventory stood at $11.092 billion, up 94.0% from $5.718 billion on September 27, 2025. This figure includes finished goods and components other than memory. The breakdown and reasons for the increase have not been disclosed, so it cannot be concluded that this was preparation for the memory shortage.
Demand was also strong. Mac revenue for the same quarter was $10.352 billion, up 28.7% from $8.046 billion in the same period the previous year, marking a record for the June quarter. Strong demand can be a factor that makes supply adjustment more difficult. However, overall Mac revenue alone cannot pinpoint the cause of the extended delivery times that remain for the MacBook Air after the price increase.
In this situation, the measures available to Apple include changing prices and product configurations while also making fine adjustments to procurement volumes and regional sales allocation. It has been reported that the US Back to School promotion, which was usually held in June, was delayed to July in 2026, and that a note about MacBook Air availability being subject to inventory was added. Apple has not disclosed the reason for the delay, and no causal link to supply adjustments has been confirmed.
Is Chinese Memory a Quick Fix?
Efforts to diversify suppliers are also underway. The Financial Times reported that Apple is testing products from Chinese DRAM maker CXMT, with an eye toward adoption in devices sold in China. Bloomberg Law reported that Apple is also considering procuring NAND from YMTC in addition to DRAM from CXMT, and is lobbying for approval. If Apple can reduce its reliance on the top three suppliers, this could have meaningful implications for both securing volume and negotiating prices.
However, there is a considerable gap between testing and mass adoption. Beyond Apple's quality certification, stable supply at required volumes, and compatibility with product design, US-China regulations surrounding CXMT and YMTC must also be navigated. The reports primarily concern devices sold in China, and there is no information confirming adoption in the MacBook Air or expansion outside China. For now, it seems more reasonable to view this as a possible way to separate procurement for the Chinese market and redirect existing supply to other regions, rather than as a means to rapidly increase global supply.
The Factory Time Lag Persists Through 2027–2028
Memory manufacturers have begun massive investments to increase production, but new clean rooms don't come online the day after an order is placed. Micron plans to allocate over $25 billion in capital expenditures in fiscal 2026, while expecting initial production from its new Idaho facility by mid-2027, and additional shipments from its existing Taoyuan, Taiwan facility in fiscal 2028. HBM back-end processing in Singapore is expected to reach meaningful scale in 2027, and a new NAND facility is slated for late 2028. The company itself anticipates that the tightness in DRAM and NAND will continue beyond 2026.
The supply shortage has brought record profits to manufacturers. Micron's fiscal Q3 2026 results showed revenue of $41.456 billion and a GAAP gross margin of 84.6%, with the Mobile and Client segment posting an 87% gross margin. These profits fund expanded production, but they don't shorten the time needed to build factories and install equipment. PC makers will have to share limited bits with AI servers, at least until new capacity comes online.
If MacBook Air delivery times normalize before new factories come online, it likely means Apple has succeeded in changing supply allocation, certifying alternative components, or adjusting demand. Conversely, if the gap in delivery times between standard and 24GB/32GB configurations widens, and prices rise again with the next-generation model, it would indicate that memory constraints have become deeply embedded in product strategy. The price increase has already happened. What comes next are adjustments that are harder to see on a price list—capacity options, launch timing, and regional inventory allocation.