MacBook Pro Assemblers in China Unlikely to Return to Pre-Lockdown Production Levels Before July

[MacRumors]

Apple's MacBook Pro assemblers in China are unlikely to return to pre-lockdown production levels until July because of insufficient manpower and logistical problems, based on the latest industry report.

Notebook manufacturers in major cities in eastern China have been resuming operations following the recent gradual easing of lockdowns, but those in Shanghai are currently only operating at 10-20% capacity, according to supply chain sources cited by DigiTimes.

Shanghai is the base of operations for Quanta Computers, Apple's sole supplier of high-end MacBook Pros, which have seen delivery times increase by three to five weeks since the China lockdowns. Some MacBook Pro configurations currently are not available for delivery until late June running into early July.

According to the report, Shanghai plants are still feeling the brunt of restrictions since only assembly workers and those who live in dormitories are allowed to return to work.

Meanwhile, many products are said to be trapped on container ships waiting to enter ports, and until these products are received by retail and shipped to customers, large-scale pull-ins at production facilities are on hold. The slow restoration of operations has also reportedly resulted in component pull-in strength being far below expectations.

We have heard from several MacRumors readers who were waiting on MacBook Pro models ordered in March and April and who have now had their shipments significantly delayed because of Apple's supply issues, which are expected to impact Apple's product sales in the third quarter of 2022.

For example, MacRumors reader Gary ordered a MacBook Pro on April 6 and was initially given a delivery date between May 18-25. This morning he says he was notified by Apple of a a new delivery date between July 7-21, which amounts to more a three-month delay in shipping.

Apple has already admitted that lockdown disruptions in China and silicon shortages will continue to make it difficult to make enough product to satisfy strong consumer demand, and this will ultimately affect Apple's June quarter revenue.

Article Link: MacBook Pro Assemblers in China Unlikely to Return to Pre-Lockdown Production Levels Before July

 

[contacos]

At this point they should maybe pause taking additional online orders until the previous orders have even been fulfilled. People just gonna get mad having their delivery date continuously moved further away

 

[JippaLippa]

Thankfully if you spec a system yourself, you can have a replacement ordered without having to send your unit back immediately.
I have gotten one of the mac studios with the dreaded high pitch sound (very annoying), but I was able to keep my unit, because I anticipated something like this happening.
I asked for a replacement at the beginning of April and the second unit was (and is) expected to be delivered in mid july.
It's a bit of a mess, to be fair.

 

[falkon-engine]

So new MacBook Prod are now in short supply like PS5s are. Got it.

I feel for all those wishing to get theirs in a timely manner. I ordered mine last year just after the keynote and it arrived soon after. This situation will also have implications for new m2 macs that may be in the pipeline scheduled for a 2022 release. WWDC may no longer be as impressive in terms of hardware announcements.

 

[CarlJ]

So new MacBook Prod are now in short supply like PS5s are. Got it.

Macs a probably less likely to have the rampant scalping that happened with the PS5, at least.

 

[adamw]

Better get your Macs now, before they become unobtainable. Build to order Macs and MacBook Pro models delivery estimate times are getting ridiculous! Look at the base models of the Mac Studio for an example of this. Around 3 months estimate for build to order Mac Studio models, and 1 to 2 months for either of the two base models (non-Build To Order) of Mac Studios.

 

[falkon-engine]

Macs a probably less likely to have the rampant scalping that happened with the PS5, at least.

Yeah cause scalpers can’t get the MacBooks at MSRP for purchase either. This covid supply chain disruption has been a pain for so many industries. So many things are sold out. Fridges. Stoves. Microwaves. Chips for cars. And more.

 

[Steve121178]

It's more serious than you think.

This is why your orders are delayed, the workers are rioting or trying to escape:

Workers at the MacBook Maker Quanta Plant Clashed with Plant Guards obeying COVID-19 Restrictions

It's being reported today that hundreds of Quanta factory workers in Shanghai China clashed with authorities and flooded past isolation barriers...

www.patentlyapple.com

 

[sunilbhaskar]

Mine is pending since Feb 14. Earlier was supposed to arrive by Apr 13 - Apr 25 and now it has been delayed with new dates of May 25 - June 14.

 

[bradman83]

Interesting that orders directly from Apple for even stock models are backed up until July but my local Best Buy has them in stock or with ship dates a few days out. That’s ultimately the route I went last fall - I decided the upper 14” stock model (16/1TB M1 Pro) was perfect for my needs and I was able to get it same day. Anyone looking for a stock model might be wise to look at other retailers besides Apple for better availability.

 

[t0rqx]

Been waiting for my MBP for 7 months. Apple downplaying it without even checking my order and it is out of their power. telling me to cancel my current one and buy it somewhere else.

Guess I will cancel and wait for M2 Max or just go back to Wintel. My first MBP after 15 years of withholding because all of the gates they introduced with the preMBPS. F this S.

 

[Blackstick]

Bunch of dummies in China. Covid is endemic now. Like stomach viruses on cruise ships. It's going to happen periodically.

Going for 0% infected is comical. Just get your labor force vaccinated and it's not a big deal.

 

[Spock]

To be fair, this is what happens when almost all of your manufacturers are in one country... I guess the money they are saving in slave labor isn’t working out at the moment.

 

[orderoftheditch]

Macs a probably less likely to have the rampant scalping that happened with the PS5, at least.

In the UK there are a few base 14 and 16 MBPs floating around on FB marketplace sealed and unused for £100-£150 less than Apple RRP. I think the main issue is custom spec machines. I ordered a 14 inch with 10/16c 32GB 1TB and I am looking at middle of June but could pick up a base model from a number of retailers.

 

[PowerMacBook]

if you didn't order one straight after the keynote, months delivery times was the answer. I ended up buying a MacBook Pro 16 GB RAM which they had in a local Apple Store, simply because in the end I wanted/needed one.
I would have gone for the maxed out super duper version, but didn't want to wait for 3-4 moths.
That was before Shanghai lock down.
I guess I'm going to wait for the M5 model: at least I'm sure that wait will and can be expressed in years.
No more doubting....

 

[everlast3434]

LOL they're still in lockdown? LOL
Apple really needs to move their production somewhere else, like the USA! I'd gladly pay more to support the local economy.

 

[ian87w]

LOL they're still in lockdown? LOL
Apple really needs to move their production somewhere else, like the USA! I'd gladly pay more to support the local economy.

Even if it was possible, you wouldn't be willing to pay more.

 

[Alexrat1996]

Mine was placed March 24 expected delivery was May 3-10 but delayed till June 16-30 and apple offered me a free tech 21 case.

 

[apparatchik]

Bunch of dummies in China. Covid is endemic now. Like stomach viruses on cruise ships. It's going to happen periodically.

Going for 0% infected is comical. Just get your labor force vaccinated and it's not a big deal.

The problem is Chinese vaccines are ineffective as is evident by the lockdowns, why even bother vaccinating the population if you’re gonna lock them down either way…

 

[Freeangel1]

Cancel your orders.

Wait for the new and improved M2 with HDMI 2.1, 5G, WIFI 6.

 

[zv470]

I was waited though December, January, February… thinking that lead times would get better. They didn’t… so I finally ordered in March. Anyway I’ve bought a 16GB MacBook Air while I’m waiting. Didn’t cancel my MacBook Pro order… wouldn’t be surprised if it arrives after October. Anyway the MacBook Air is a fairly decent machine… I like it.

 

[zv470]

Cancel your orders.

Wait for the new and improved M2 with HDMI 2.1, 5G, WIFI 6.

WiFi 6e

 

[tridley68]

I would be willing to pay more if they were manufactured in the USA and then we could become less reliant on China

 

[zshbleaker]

I live in Shanghai and my expected ending time of the lockdown is Nov, when President Xi claims his lifelong dictitorship is approved by the whole country.

 

[Ethosik]

At this point they should maybe pause taking additional online orders until the previous orders have even been fulfilled. People just gonna get mad having their delivery date continuously moved further away

I prefer it stays how it is actually. I deal with the out of stock issue daily on PS5, NVIDIA GPUs and AMD GPUs. I wish I could have ordered those almost two years ago so I don’t need to check daily for if they are back in stock.