What you need to know
- Apple's MacBook shipments are expected to rise dramatically later this year.
- Supply chain insider Ming-Chi Kuo says they could grow by 45% in the second half of the year compared to the first.
- Kuo says a notebook shortage is improving.
Apple supply chain analyst and insider Ming-Chi Kuo says that Apple's MacBook shipments could climb by 45% in the second half of this year as the notebook shortage starts to improve.
In a note seen by iMore Kuo states "we estimate that MacBook shipments will grow by 40-45% HoH in 2H21, and the shortage of notebook computers will see improvement in 2H21."
It comes as Kuo made a more specific prediction regarding a rumored new MacBook Air coming in 2022, which he says is set to debut in the middle of the year. From our most recent report:
Apple's big mini-LED MacBook Air refresh is set to happen in the middle of 2022, according to a new analyst report by Ming-Chi Kuo. We'd previously heard that we should expect the new machine in the first half of the year, making this the most specific timeline we've seen yet.According to a research note seen by iMore, Kuo expects the new 13.3-inch mini-LED MacBook Air to help Apple boost its MacBook shipments for the year — assuming supply shortages continue to ease as expected. If they do, Kuo thinks Apple could ship up to 22 million notebooks next year.
Kuo and others have previously stated Apple will release a new mini-LED MacBook Pro later this year in two sizes featuring a beefier Apple silicon chip. If rumors are true, the return of the MagSafe charger, SD card slot, HDMI port and a new design could herald the best MacBook ever.
