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15-Inch MacBook Air Stockpiled by Suppliers Ahead of Rumored WWDC Launch

TigerNike23 said:
Jeez… if it’s only $150 away from a Pro model, it’s a joke of a product. Just like the iPhone 14 Plus.
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These "normalized on 16GB RAM and 512GB " are all highly skewed by Apple's BTO option pricing. The far high volume sold configurations will not be anywhere near that small of a gap. Especially if Apple is still pegging the entry SSD configuration with the kneecapped single SSD package.

If for one product you dip into 2 , or even worse 3, BTO categories to 'even up' the feature set and what really looking at are prices that are designed to "price ladder" you up to buying the system at the next level thinking you got a 'bargain'. "I'm throwing 1,800 at Apple anyway ... what's is another $150. " only means tossing them even more money.

Drop the 8GB , drop a couple of GPU cores and have a much bigger gap.
 
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michaelsviews said:
hmmmm I'd add the 512. 13" M2 MBA 16GB, 1TB is 1900.00 without AppleCare and taxes added in. Imagine the cost of the 15".
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It’s gonna be all about the screen to deflect from the so-so specs. 2023, it’s time for 512 GB and 16 GB minimum. Even if macOS is super optimized. even on low specs. We are keeping our devices longer and these things aren’t upgradable.
 
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dturner123 said:
I wish Apple would do a press release next week. I want it now! lol
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whitby said:
This is a unique idea. Having a product in stock for purchase when it is announced. Let's hope this is true and not just the usual baiting tactic. It is usually announce and then waiting several months for delivery and then the color you want is on back order because they had no idea it would be popular. Sorry that story is very old. So if this is true and you will be able to order and take delivery in a couple of weeks, then this will be a unique experience.
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Not a unique idea. Just an inefficient early-20th-century idea. Manufacturing product just in time ("JIT") is the more modern, far more efficient approach. Stockpiling makes consumers wait for already-made items (a particular risk in quickly evolving tech) and risks leaving wasted product on shelves when consumers' fickle fads decide some color or whatever is no longer in.
 
MidwestMacGuy said:
In all these posts about the new 15" Air, I've not seen anything about expected pricing. We will wait and see, but I will either get this new Air, or a 16 inch MacBook Pro. I'm not sure how much lower in price the 15" Air will be but if the price is close to the MacBook Pro, I'm not sure the savings will be worth it.
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This save a little, vs smart buying is what most debate with this rumored product. I can understand the need of something lower priced that allows the equivalency of what some of the better laptops offer, but at the same time Apple is trying to make specific margins vs better specs when selling any laptop. I do expect some 13" MBA/MBP specs to be tweaked in the near future. Something that just needs to happen. (FaceTime Camera, Bluetooth 5.3, Spatial Speakers, SSD configurations)
 
Allen_Wentz said:
Not a unique idea. Just an inefficient early-20th-century idea. Manufacturing product just in time ("JIT") is the more modern, far more efficient approach. Stockpiling makes consumers wait for already-made items (a particular risk in quickly evolving tech) and risks leaving wasted product on shelves when consumers' fickle fads decide some color or whatever is no longer in.
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Good point which I generally agree with, but a couple of things to consider:

1. Stockpiling before the official launch does not make any consumers wait. In the recent past demand of MacBooks has been greater than JIT production capabilities so increasing immediately available stock means fewer customers will wait. JIT is very good when demand is consistent, like after the greater, initial demand has been fulfilled.
2. Assuming it will get the same colors as the 13" Air, Apple already has sales data on MBA color preferences and has probably accounted for that in the stock which is currently being piled. This is different from the iMac 24" colors.
3. The M2 15" MBA will not change or evolve over its lifespan.
 
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Didn’t they come out with the M2 MacBook Air at WWDC 2022? I hope they do more than an M2 in this new thing. Maybe an M2 Pro? I would actually be interested in it if it had an M3 and 32GB RAM. I feel like on the new 3nm node with its power and thermal efficiency they could probably put M3 and M3 Pro into the MacBook Airs and M3 Max and M3 Ultra into the MacBook Studio (formerly Pro). So the M3 Pro could potentially become fanless, and maybe even an option on the higher end iPad Studio (formerly Pro) kinda like how you get 16GB RAM on the iPad Pro with 1TB SSD.

TSMC yield issues on a new process…where have I heard this before? We gonna have Intel all over again? Or is Moore’s law about to come to a screeching halt? We’re getting close. Probably end of decade for sure if I had to guess, at least for traditional silicon chips.
 
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Allen_Wentz said:
Not a unique idea. Just an inefficient early-20th-century idea. Manufacturing product just in time ("JIT") is the more modern, far more efficient approach. Stockpiling makes consumers wait for already-made items (a particular risk in quickly evolving tech) and risks leaving wasted product on shelves when consumers' fickle fads decide some color or whatever is no longer in.
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I was intending to be sarcastic. Sorry it missed.
 
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darngooddesign said:
Good point which I generally agree with, but a couple of things to consider:

1. Stockpiling before the official launch does not make any consumers wait. In the recent past demand of MacBooks has been greater than JIT production capabilities so increasing immediately available stock means fewer customers will wait. JIT is very good when demand is consistent, like after the greater, initial demand has been fulfilled.
2. Assuming it will get the same colors as the 13" Air, Apple already has sales data on MBA color preferences and has probably accounted for that in the stock which is currently being piled. This is different from the iMac 24" colors.
3. The M2 15" MBA will not change or evolve over its lifespan.
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JIT can be more efficient, but it is also much more fragile.
 
macduke said:
TSMC yield issues on a new process…where have I heard this before?
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Sure you heard it before - - because it is part of every new process line: TSMC, Intel, whomever. Poor initial yields improve (and therefore costs-per-chip drop) over weeks of operation.

Folks wishing for early M3 are also wishing for higher prices due to higher chip cost. That is often justified to obtain performance at the high end like Mac Pros, MBPs and Studios but just dumb at the low end like MBAs and Minis where older more cost-effective chips are already capable of all the performance Apple intends lower-end users to receive.

A caveat comes in when we discuss features like Bluetooth, WiFi, HDMI version, etc. that may be a substantive upgrade on a new chip. M2 over M1 there were substantive upgrades we had been waiting for that inured to both high and low end products, but not so for M3.
 
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Allen_Wentz said:
Sure you heard it before - - because it is part of every new process line: TSMC, Intel, whomever. Poor initial yields improve (and therefore costs-per-chip drop) over weeks of operation.

Folks wishing for early M3 are also wishing for higher prices. That is often justified at the high end like Mac Pros, MBPs and Studios but just dumb at the low end like MBAs and Minis where older more cost-effective chips are already capable of all the performance Apple intends low-end users to receive.
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But those higher prices also fund further refinement that ultimately results in lower prices for everyone. So, how about give people the option? If they want a mainstream (contrary to your "low end") option they get a "reasonable" price. If they want to push the envelope, they can pay for the privilege. You know, just like people can buy an M1 vs. M2 13" Air right now.

Though that may blow too many Apple customers' minds. Not being used to multiple options and all... :D
 
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Weasel13 said:
But those higher prices also fund further refinement that ultimately results in lower prices for everyone. So, how about give people the option? If they want a mainstream (contrary to your "low end") option they get a "reasonable" price. If they want to push the envelope, they can pay for the privilege. You know, just like people can buy an M1 vs. M2 13" Air right now.

Though that may blow too many Apple customers' minds. Not being used to multiple options and all... :D
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The only thing to add to this, is that a lot should be attributed to what is still in the 3rd party retailer chains, rather then the Apple Store itself has already reduced our choices.

Example 2021 14"/16" MBP models you can buy at Amazon, BB, etc versus the pitiful M2 13" MBP and M2 Pro/Max 14"/16" MBPs via Apple Store. Yet curiously Apple is still selling the M1 13" MBA along with the M2 13" MBA in the Apple Store go figure? :)
 
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M1 and M1 Pro/Max were so amazing that everyone upgraded their Intel based MB/MBP in 2021-2022. No wonder there is a dip in sales now in 2023: the previous generation is still great and M2 is a tiny incremental upgrade.

Maybe the 3nm process will give us a performance increase that will lure some to upgrade.

Maybe local LLMs will eventually force people who have 8-16GB of RAM to upgrade to 32-64GB just to be able to run them.

TLDR: prev gen MBP is great, Apple needs to give us a reason to upgrade
 
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I'm in love with my 13" Macbook Air M2 but depending on the weight I might be tempted to pick up the 15" instead. I love how thin and light this computer is!
 
jole said:
M1 and M1 Pro/Max were so amazing that everyone upgraded their Intel based MB/MBP in 2021-2022. No wonder there is a dip in sales now in 2023: the previous generation is still great and M2 is a tiny incremental upgrade.

Maybe the 3nm process will give us a performance increase that will lure some to upgrade.

Maybe local LLMs will eventually force people who have 8-16GB of RAM to upgrade to 32-64GB just to be able to run them.

TLDR: prev gen MBP is great, Apple needs to give us a reason to upgrade
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Ah yes the fallacy of there should always be a massive upgrade between models.

Beyond the fact this topic is about enticing people to buy a bigger MacBook Air, iterative updates yearly has always been the way. The MacBook Pro M2 covers that and the M3 will likely do the same. Unless they release the Mac Pro and it causes them to release a redesign of the MacBook Pro sooner than expected, which is highly unlikely.
 
Weasel13 said:
What the heck is "pull-in momentum" and how can you measure any kind of momentum before you sell the first unit???
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There are two classes of inventory management. pull (in ) and Push ( out ).

“...
Generally speaking, most inventory management solutions fall into one of two types: push systems and pull systems.

Push systems are ideal for established businesses with deeper pockets and lots of inventory storage space.

On the other hand, pull systems are perfect for smaller entities with limited budgets that are still establishing themselves. Most businesses, however, use a hybrid approach called a push-pull systemthat features key elements from both strategies. …”
www.business.org

Push System vs. Pull System for Inventory Management in 2025 | Business.org

Business.org simplifies push and pull inventory management systems and helps you identify which is right for you.
www.business.org www.business.org


A higher pull in is basically ’ inside baseball’ talk in inventory control game for retailers stocking up . Generally Apple tries to run a just-in-time inventory controls on their side. They stock enough to even out normal flow fluctuations , but if retailers stop taking product Apple isn’t going to keep running the factories at the same rate .

Apple really doesn’t want to get to a point that they are pushing inventory at retailers that they don’t want. ( not really making friends at your retail partners when pushing all thr inventory cost to eat into their profit margins. Retailers don’t want expensive Mac they are not selling anymore than Apple does . Apple isn’t generally giving those for free over a long period of time . nor are storage cost necessarily cheap. )
 
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I was really hoping this would come with the M3 chip with this laptop being fan-less. With the M3 being 3nm, it would consume less power and produce less heat which would make sense with a larger 15" screen with a device... without a fan. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the M2 will be completely fine. I'm just not inclined to purchase it. If it came with the M3, it would be a day one purchase.
 
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