New AirPods and MacBooks Due to Launch Later This Year

[MacRumors]

New MacBooks and AirPods are still on course for launch later this year, according to Taiwanese website Economic Daily News.

Apple suppliers are reportedly hurrying to increase capacity in preparation for the release of new MacBooks and AirPods in the second half of this year. Shipment momentum is expected to be "significantly stronger" from the third quarter of the year at the earliest, improving order fulfillment.

Shin Zu Shing supplies bearings to Apple for MacBooks, AirPods charging cases, and AirPods Max headbands, and is currently believed to be cooperating with Apple to supply bearings for new MacBook and AirPods products. The supplier is said to be struggling to meet demand and is in the process of hiring more manpower to expand production capacity.

While the report did not state which MacBooks and AirPods are expected to be released, it is highly likely that it refers to redesigned MacBook Pro models featuring Apple Silicon and third-generation AirPods.

The second half of 2021 timeframe lines up with a range of other reports about the redesigned MacBook Pro models. Reliable Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman said that new MacBook Pro models could launch as soon as this summer, but analyst Ming Chi-Kuo, Nikkei Asia, and TrendForce have given a broader prediction that new MacBook Pro models will arrive in the second half of 2021.

Similarly, Bloomberg and DigiTimes have claimed that third-generation AirPods will arrive later this year, following a spate of rumors about the new earbuds.

Both upgraded devices were rumored to launch earlier this year but have yet to emerge. Other reports have explained this confusion around Apple rescheduling mass-production from May to June to the second half of the year amid shortages and technical issues.

Economic Daily News indicated that there was a shortage of components not related to bearings and Apple ordered an "inventory adjustment" earlier this year, which may suggest that the launch date of updated MacBooks and AirPods was pushed back to later in 2021 by Apple due to shortages. Through the second half of the year, even if the bearing component itself is not subject to shortages, its shipment momentum may still be constrained by the supply of other components for the devices but will improve month by month, according to the report.

The new MacBooks are expected to push MacBook shipments to 23 million units this year for an annual increase of 15 percent. While AirPods shipments are expected to decrease around 25 to 30 percent in the first half of 2021, the launch of an updated model may boost annual sales by 10 to 15 percent in the second half of 2021.

Article Link: New AirPods and MacBooks Due to Launch Later This Year

 

[Serban55]

These things...will sell like crazy due to the best overall mobile working device...best in class performance/battery/build
And thanks to the lower price, the 14" will outsell the 16" i think

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

There is hope for the new MacBook 💻. Can’t wait to upgrade mine. It will be a well worth upgrade.

However, Later when this year? November???

 

[dantracht]

Slow news day/week, so why not rehash this news yet again.

We know, we know. New everything else later this year, meaning fall.

How many times can this be repeated??

 

[EvilEvil]

No kidding. Captain Obvious news story.

 

[Nik]

This news seems … redundant.

 

[SactoGuy18]

I think the new AirPods could arrive as early as September. We've seen leaks of the new circuit board for the AirPods, so it won't be long before production actually starts.

 

[Tsuki415]

Hey. New stuff is coming soon, based on what a known leaker says. Unless it doesn’t. Then it’ll be even later than that.

 

[tom.humphrey]

And the sky is blue

 

[transpo1]

Actually, this new report from the Taiwanese publication has new supply information and confirms what we thought all along— MacBooks and AirPods were meant to launch earlier this year but will now likely be in the fall.

 

[Fusionskies]

These updates can't come quick enough for me, looking to upgrade from my 2013 rMBP.
I really do want one of those new airs though, if the leaked colour options are anything to suggest.

 

[contacos]

can’t you just update one of your old articles? I feel like there is one like these every month adding no additional value

 

[nwcs]

Anyone else still rocking the original plug-in AirPods? I almost feel like a relic with them but they work just fine so it’s hard to justify spending on another set.

 

[l0stl0rd]

these start go get annoying every few days same old news… yes we know.

 

[kkinto]

how many times are you going to publish the same thing?

 

[MacLawyer]

I know this is repetitive, but it all fairness this IS a rumor (rumour) site.

 

[kycophpd]

I can’t wait to read all about this!!!

Again, next week. See you all then.

 

[ikunalz]

A top-secret source just leaked that new iPhones - and, maybe, a few more new Apple devices and / or accessories - are due to launch later this year.

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

Hahaha. I love the reaction to this article.

 

[ECHLN]

These things...will sell like crazy due to the best overall mobile working device...best in class performance/battery/build
And thanks to the lower price, the 14" will outsell the 16" i think

I hope so. I want the 16”

 

[NightFox]

Still seems very quiet on the Mac Mini front - there's got to be a reason Apple went M1 with the Mini range apart from the i7 which is still for sale.

 

[ooans]

So close to buying a M1 Mac.

Been using a MBP with an external monitor for months now cause the screen broke, but I guess it will be worth the wait!

 

[djplong]

Hey, if it wasn't for the big nothing-burger (as far as hardware went) that the last event delivered, combined with all the hype over M1X or M2-based Macs, with some added gasoline poured on in the form of those schematics purportedly of the next MacBook Pros coming out, this article and the reaction to it wouldn't exist.

I confess, I keep reading these articles, and tea leaves, because I'm in the process of switching a lot of my personal usage from PC to Mac (already upgraded my wife's dying PC to an M1-based MacBook Air) and I want to know when I'm going to be spending my money (and hoping I have something new before November).

 

[Pezimak]

I'm waiting to see what the new MacBook Pro's are like.
I considered a Mac Pro on Apples interest free scheme but felt the similar cost of a new car on finance every month for it was a bit high for me lol.
Wonder if the rumoured new 32" iMac will make an appearance this year?
I really need a new computer. I have an old iPad Pro, and a very old (several years) MacBook Pro that smells a bit funny when in use!

Very tricky to buy a new computer at present with Apple moving over to its own silicon.

 

[project_2501]

Just before the WWDC was predicted as the announcement of 2021 MacBooks an Apple Authorised reseller told me not to believe the rumours. He was right.

He said that rumours are monetised (clicks) and that's why they are less believable now than they were say 10-15 years ago.

I think he was right. Shame because a macrumors site based on real rumours and not just click pumping would be good.