Kuo: MacBook Sales Down 30% Amid No New Products for Remainder of 2023

[Aston441]

I would happily buy a new Mac Book (Pro) with an Intel processor right now. I don't need super performance or extended battery life. I need 100% compatibility with Windows software.

For 95% of real world Macintosh end users, the only real world difference in functionality in moving from from mainstream X86 to niche M-series, is the loss of the ability to BootCamp and natively run Windows and Linux directly on the hardware, or at least run VMs at acceptable speed.

Contrast the move from PowerPC (niche) to x86 (mainstream), which gave tremendous added functionality to the end user.

Macintosh needs to go back to an x86 option, at least on some of the lineup.

 

[citysnaps]

This is 2023…. So how far would you go with this argument? 128/4 as a start: if you need more just pay more? And 256/8 is not future proofing in anyway. More and more Mac software recommend 16gb (games in particular), so yeah in that regard it is a ripoff: your brand new 2023 MacBook Air can’t even run certain software decently, while the cpu and gpu are not the bottleneck.

You may not be aware Apple products are used by a wide range of people who have different needs.

Some are not tech-oriented and just want to surf the internet, use email, and write letters. At the other end there are tech-oriented people who do circuit design, graphic design, photo processing, simulations, hard core gaming, etc, etc.

Apple has a computer available for those different needs; at different price points.

Need more memory? Simply pay for it.

If all you do is surf the net and answer emails, save some money and buy a minimal machine.

Easy.


If you don't like Apple's pricing strategy, or are feeling ripped off, there's a solution for you simply by opening your wallet and purchasing a computer from an Apple competitor.

Also easy.

 

[Aston441]

buy/build a PC then.

I did. No more Macs for me. I rarely need Windows. But when I need it, I NEED it.

 

[PBG4 Dude]

You might check some of the many deals on MBP 14 M1 Pro right now. Easy to get one for $1279. Sealed Apple Recertified. There are deals on 15" MBA and 16" MBP M1 Pro. Just look around.

From your link:
“This pre-owned product has been professionally inspected, tested and cleaned by Amazon qualified vendors. It is not certified by Apple.”

 

[Runaway Train]

Just had my 2017 MBP repaired. 100% functional, still powerful enough. It’s unreasonable to expect innovation every 12 months (even though we have sales champion Tim Cook getting all worked up in these prerecorded events).

Be thankful for what we have - Mother Nature, a new pencil, some new emojis, double tap on the watch and a few extra nits as they throw us another bone. 😝

 

[shawnforever]

I know I'm certainly holding off on buying a MacBook Pro.

I have a 2017 MBP. I don't strictly need a new computer, but it's about that time, and I would buy one if a new one were available. I can afford to wait another 6-8 months for the update. But of course if I needed one then it makes sense to get one now. The 2023 is still a great computer and will be a great computer for years to come. It's just old enough to be not an impulse buy for me at this point in time.

 

[Deguello]

"... demand for the 15-inch MacBook Air has dropped substantially..."

When/if the price drops even more substantially, I'll probably get an M2 or two. If it doesn't, I suppose I'll just bite the bullet and wait for the M3.

Edit: Maybe not even "substantially," but just to the $1049 base from Apple as is available from Best Buy and Amazon.

 

[Aston441]

As for people buying "clearly inferior Windows machines just because it's cheaper"... there is little that is true or new in that claim. The two platforms are so different that anyone who wants a Mac will buy one. A Windows system is not a reasonable substitute.

Of course it is. There is nothing Windows can't do, that MacOS can, except iMessage, and integrating as well with other Apple stuff. Anyone willing to ditch iMessage is suddenly FREE.

I already went through this when I ditched Apple the first time in '99.

The sudden waterfall of cheap, amazing, limitless options in PC world was overwhelming and amazing. 12 years before considering another Apple device, and now I wish I hadn't. Time to ditch Apple again... except for that damn iMessage...

 

[Darren.h]

Apple silicon is doing awesome and off to a great start.

wait til next years Apple silicon only upgrade for macOS. Intel Mac users do you stay Mac or switch to windows??

 

[sracer]

You may not be aware Apple products are used by a wide range of people who have different needs.

Some are not tech-oriented and just want to surf the internet, use email, and write letters. At the other end there are tech-oriented people who do circuit design, graphic design, photo processing, simulations, hard core gaming, etc, etc.

Apple has a computer available for those different needs; at different price points.

Need more memory? Simply pay for it.

If all you do is surf the net and answer emails, save some money and buy a minimal machine.

Easy.


If you don't like Apple's pricing strategy, or are feeling ripped off, there's a solution for you simply by opening your wallet and purchasing a computer from an Apple competitor.

Also easy.

I agree. The ironic thing, IMO, is that some of the best tech bargains are Apple products... the base model 9th gen iPad and base model M2 Mac Mini are just two.

I bought the latter for $479 new. What a powerhouse for that low price. I added a Satechi dock and a 1TB SSD for less than Apple charges to bump the internal storage from 256GB to 512GB. Sure, the speeds are not the same, but in practical everyday use (including video encoding, audio processing, etc.) the speed difference is negligible. (but I'm not doing any 4K video encoding)

But many Apple customers succumb to FOMO (which Apple is all too happy to encourage) and continue to chase the mythical "futureproof" option. I sympathize with them... it's hard to break that mindset.

 

[sracer]

Of course it is. There is nothing Windows can't do, that MacOS can, except iMessage, and integrating as well with other Apple stuff. Anyone willing to ditch iMessage is suddenly FREE.

I already went through this when I ditched Apple the first time in '99.

The sudden waterfall of cheap, amazing, limitless options in PC world was overwhelming and amazing. 12 years before considering another Apple device, and now I wish I hadn't. Time to ditch Apple again... except for that damn iMessage...

except iMessage. except working with Pages and Keynote. except... except.. "except" is doing a lot of the heavy lifting in that claim.

I heavily use Mac OS and Windows daily. I need both. But I know that other people's needs are different. For those who have a computing requirement that is so basic that their needs can be equally satisfied by Mac OS or Windows, then it would be foolish for them to spend a premium for a Mac OS device when mid-tier Windows system can serve them as well... and at a lower cost.

But my comment was originally in response to the potential loss of customers who need a Mac OS device but can't buy one because of the price and must "settle" for a Windows system. If they can settle for Windows, then they didn't need Mac OS in the first place.

 

[Aston441]

What a bunch of whiny peasants. Apple, Inc. is a BUSINESS. It's sole purpose is to make as much margin off their product line as possible and report as much profits to their stock holders. You're just too poor and want something for cheap and you have that option - go buy PC parts and build your own. No one is stopping you. But I hear whinging haters yappin' away about how this should not be soldered, that should be upgradeable. You don't like it that way, don't buy. I swear apple buyers like these whinging peasants here in this thread buy refurb and only during BF for a 2 year old apple product and come out swinging that they made the best deal in their life 🙄

That exact attitude drove hoards of Mac users into the Warm Embrace of Windows PCs in the 1990s, and drove Apple into the dirt.

History repeats.

 

[henkie]

You may not be aware Apple products are used by a wide range of people who have different needs.

Some are not tech-oriented and just want to surf the internet, use email, and write letters. At the other end there are tech-oriented people who do circuit design, graphic design, photo processing, simulations, hard core gaming, etc, etc.

Apple has a computer available for those different needs; at different price points.

Need more memory? Simply pay for it.

If all you do is surf the net and answer emails, save some money and buy a minimal machine.

Easy.


If you don't like Apple's pricing strategy, or are feeling ripped off, there's a solution for you simply by opening your wallet and purchasing a computer from an Apple competitor.

Also easy.

What do you think if Dell sells a laptop for >1200 dollars with 256/8? Simply not acceptable in 2023. Would be ok if the upgrade prices are reasonable but they are pure ripoffs. And yes, I voted with my wallet: bought a refurbished, close to new 1tb, mbp m1pro 14 (not at Apple) for less than I would pay for a slightly upgraded mba 15.
Since I was in the market for a new computer, but I was shocked by the meager start config and upgrade prices. So I am partly to blame (0.0000001%) for the slumping sales

 

[Aston441]

Apple silicon is doing awesome and off to a great start.

wait til next years Apple silicon only upgrade for macOS. Intel Mac users do you stay Mac or switch to windows??

I just bought a PC from Dell a few weeks ago. What's New is Old Again.

 

[Rokkus76]

increase RAM and SSD for same money would do more than a M3 to spur demand.

In Italy, 15" MacBook Air, 16/512 costs 2.109 € taxes included. I think it's a bit too much...

 

[henkie]

What a bunch of whiny peasants. Apple, Inc. is a BUSINESS. It's sole purpose is to make as much margin off their product line as possible and report as much profits to their stock holders. You're just too poor and want something for cheap and you have that option - go buy PC parts and build your own. No one is stopping you. But I hear whinging haters yappin' away about how this should not be soldered, that should be upgradeable. You don't like it that way, don't buy. I swear apple buyers like these whinging peasants here in this thread buy refurb and only during BF for a 2 year old apple product and come out swinging that they made the best deal in their life 🙄

Great attitude. “Stop being poor”. It will come back to bite the company if they keep selling stuff that is overpriced but does not deliver. I mean, Apple recently failed to make a decent iPhone 15 case, but was sold for a premium.

 

[DaveEcc]

This doesn’t take into account the surge of MacBook sales throughout the C-19 pandemic; the whole industry is currently readjusting to pre-levels.

Nor the backlog of customers waiting through the butterfly keyboard years, and the subsequent "Finally a working keyboard... but Apple is switching to Arm? I guess I keep waiting" year.

There are plenty of reasons why sales were higher than normal. Now that surge is over, and we're in a bad economic situation... Nobody should be surprised that sales went down.

 

[henkie]

That exact attitude drove hoards of Mac users into the Warm Embrace of Windows PCs in the 1990s, and drove Apple into the dirt.

History repeats.

Exactly. Apple should be careful not to turn into a fashion brand where you pay a premium for the name or “design”, but not for quality anymore (eg “Dolce Gabbana”). Instead, I rather have them be like a decent outdoor brand: premium, but reliable, efficient, nifty tricks and somewhat fashionable.

 

[wanha]

You're right, they don't… initially. And Apple is clearly relying on that for their "Sucker's Buy" entry-level system spec'ing and pricing.
However… customers don't usually stay ignorant for long. They eventually start to complain about performance, "Why is my computer slow?" And when they, inevitably, hear the answer, "Because Apple shortchanged you on the components they put in that model", they almost always—right then and there—decide to never buy a Mac again. They'll go back to the Windows world… where they expect that kind of nonsense.

This is why this Exec Team's short-sighted greed will eventually befall it. Thing is, this exact thing happened to Apple before; it has been warned about, repeatedly… but none of these idiots were at Apple then, so they're doomed to repeat it. Sure, more money involved, the size of the company bigger, yes, yes… but all mighty eventually fall. All.

And this was 100% avoidable if Apple would have just stuck to it's "first principles", as Elon constantly preaches: if Apple would just deliver the best devices for value (a price that is commensurate, which can be higher than competition) and back that up with customer service and support that matches their PR narrative, they'd not be facing this. Instead, they chose massive stock options, gaslighting consumers with propaganda, and "luxury" faux-quality. It's made them rich; but the community is now poorer, and it is finally starting to really show.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

While I agree with you on principle, I disagree on the issue of the read/write-gate. It's completely a theoretical issue that people with no noticeable difference for over 95% of users. It has been blown way out of proportion on forums like this.

 

[CrysisDeu]

The new laptops are so ugly. I refuse to buy them

 

[MajorFubar]

I wonder what Apple reckons the refresh cycle is for Macbooks? The big jump in performance and efficiency happened with the move to M1. The tech review sites go wild with superlatives like "crazy!!!!" and 'insane!!!!" every time something new comes out, whereas in reality the improvements since then are incremental, and for most casual users they don't represent a great ROI.

 

[t0rqx]

maybe not save on that thermal paste could boost sales significantly.

 

[Kierkegaarden]

“Waning appeal of Apple Silicon and Mini-LED displays”? What an ignorant statement. The PC industry is down more — what does he think that is attributed to? Apple isn’t completely immune from market cycles.

 

[jhowarth]

Apple's lot might have been very different had they used a proper thermal solution for the M2 MacBook Air and defaulted to two SSD chips in the base configuration. I ended up ordering a 16Gb/256Gb M1 MacBook Air last week to replace my 16Gb/256Gb 2017 MacBook Pro 14,1 which still had $225 in trade in value left on it. I looked really hard at the M2 but couldn't justify spending the extra $200 for two SSD chips on a machine with thermals that will likely shorten the battery and other hardware's lifespan. With the trade-in and educational pricing, the M1 MacBook Air was only $854 whereas for the M2, after bumping the SSD to 512Gb to avoid the disk speed issue and the ram to 16 Gb to avoid wearing the SSD with swap usage, I would have paid $1254. Had the thermal issues with the M2 not existed, I might have paid the extra $400.

 

[jhowarth]

I don't expect the M3 chip to turn Macbook purchasing trends around. OK the M3 will have hardware ray-tracing which will assist graphic intensive applications.

But there will otherwise be only just a minor enhancement boost to performance.

It's not as if the A17 pro has set high expectations, if anything maybe the opposite. So the M3 chip should be viewed in that light.

One reason that I ordered a 16Gb/256Gb MacBook Air to replace my current 16Gb/256Gb MacBook Pro 14,1 was that I have little faith Apple will improve the M3 MacBook Air thermals back to the same levels as with the M1. I suspect that Apple will be too tempted to tilt the improvements towards performance rather than TDP reduction figuring that folks who want controlled thermals with go for a M3 MacBook Pro with a fan. I just don't trust a sealed computer to run its processor past the thermal limit without causing thermal degradation to the battery.