Redesigned MacBook Pro Models May Not Ship to Customers Until Late 2021

[shplock]

Yeah, it doesn’t sound like Apple to have such a large gap in announcement and shipping date. However, it could be that the chip shortage is affecting production more than they thought. Still, it’s not good marketing to have such delay. You’ll be losing the momentum of hype. Better save the announcement at October or November like usual.

That strategy did not hurt Apple in 2013 when they released the trashcan Mac Pro!
They announced it in WWDC and it did not ship till end of year.

 

[shplock]

Apple already made that statement last year when they announced the 2 year transition. Imo it’s obvious to developers. Plus, the first Apple Silicon Macs are consumer Macs, which are selling more than the more expensive Pro models, so the writing is already obvious for developers when the M1 MacBook Air (best selling Apple laptop lineup) was released.

We’ll see in a few days.

Apple could do what they did before and simply show off the new Macs and ship them later. That way they create plenty of hype and then they can keep it going by at some point when the hype dies down letting the usual brown nosing Youtubers test them and spark the hype up all over again.

 

[shplock]

So after apple has been dormant for almost two years (16" mbp) you think they will update the product twice within 6 months? Really?

Apple have done it before so why not.

 

[shplock]

I agree. Apple isn’t going to announce and then make people wait months and months.

Why not? They did it before.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Why not? They did it before.

They did it once before but, I don't see that as something to suggest an ongoing pattern.

 

[shplock]

Announcing a new Intel Mac at WWDC would be completely out of character, and illogical for the future of their business.

The only product rumored to be getting a final Intel version is the Mac Pro, because it can be built to insanely high specifications that M1/M1X/M2 can’t even approach (for instance, 1 TB of RAM, which no M-series chip is likely to support for years.)

New Intel Macs at WWDC would also confuse developers and make them less likely to write code for M-series chips.

Actually the M series chips CAN make for an insane Mc Pro as you will find out. Credible leaks including from Kuo show that Apple are testing a Mac Pro with an M chip that blows Intel out the water.

 

[shplock]

The Mac Pros and iMac pros were all low-volume specialty devices for video editors and number crunchers.

The 13"/16" (or 14"/16") MacBook Pros are Apple's cash cows. I doubt they're going to Osborne themselves here.

That does not mater. The truth is Apple have a track record of doing it. Accept it and let us see how it plays out.

 

[Falhófnir]

That does not mater. The truth is Apple have a track record of doing it. Accept it and let us see how it plays out.

Additionally I doubt sales of the Intel 13" can be that high at the moment anyway, given its less powerful and more expensive than the M1 model. The 16" might also be slow simply because it's getting a bit long in the tooth and people will be fully expecting a big M series update any time now.

 

[James Godfrey]

Why not? They did it before.

The issue I have is your talking about a niche product usually purchased by businesses who can just buy them as a tax write off…

The MacBook Pro is a pro-consumer device which still many regular consumers buy today, leaving a whopping six months is overkill and tbh they would be farrrrr better off just announcing M1X then having another event in November launching the new models which then will not stagnate their current line up (as not everyone will follow what’s rumoured etc) however the tech community will know exactly what’s coming later in the year that way.

 

[shplock]

But seriously announcing a $6,000 product vs a sub $2,000 product is completely different.

MacBooks sell many units every single day, Mac Pro’s probably don’t, and apple know that, those who are buying a Mac Pro are buying it because it is a mandatory requirement at the time.

If Apple are not shipping these until late 2021, we won’t see them announced until November.

Not necessarily. Appel have a track record of announcing many products then shipping them alter such as Mac Pro or high volume items such s iPads so your theory just got blown out the water, sorry!

 

[shplock]

Once announced these new models are going to be listed on their site alongside the current models for 6 months.

Yes the M1 MacBooks are also listed alongside but those are entry level MacBooks so there is still a market for the higher end models.

Once these new models are advertised, the higher end models will struggle for the next 6 months.

Just seems very weird for Apple to do that to their own product line for such a prolonged period.

I think it’s safe to say MBP models shipping in July won’t come with miniLED.

No offence but you seem to not know how Apple work.

 

[shplock]

Yeah, that is what I think. They did it with Mac Pro just because it didn't hurt sales of their other computers that much. Especially because the base Mac Pro is really overpriced for what you get, so the customers looking for a better value just got iMac Pro for the same amount of money.

If the launch of the new MBP is delayed to Q4 2021, they won't announce it before October.

They did it with iPads in the past which are NOT high priced low volume units.
Apple do what Apple like and do not follow the advice of armchair experts on sites like this.
Maybe you are right but maybe you are wrong.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

That strategy did not hurt Apple in 2013 when they released the trashcan Mac Pro!
They announced it in WWDC and it did not ship till end of year.

Ah, thanks. So, they’ve done it twice (also in 2019).

 

[James Godfrey]

No offence but you seem to not know how Apple work.

I know Apple like money, I also know that the current high end MBP’s won’t be selling all that much and having an M1X MBP all over the media and on their website for 5 months is going to basically kill off the high end models for the rest of the year.

It makes absolutely ZERO business sense, either we will get an announcement with shipping within a month, or we will just get the M1X announced with another event with the MBP, or we will just get neither announced and be in limbo for the next 5 months.

 

[businessnumbersmoneypeopl]

The issue I have is your talking about a niche product usually purchased by businesses who can just buy them as a tax write off…

The MacBook Pro is a pro-consumer device which still many regular consumers buy today, leaving a whopping six months is overkill and tbh they would be farrrrr better off just announcing M1X then having another event in November launching the new models which then will not stagnate their current line up (as not everyone will follow what’s rumoured etc) however the tech community will know exactly what’s coming later in the year that way.

I think many comments here are overestimating the awareness that typical customers (even those looking for a pro laptop) have on things that are discussed here at Macrumors or similar sites. Most just go to the store when they need a new laptop and buy one. Hence the gap may not be such a big issue for Apple's business model after all.

Anyway, luckily we'll be wiser in about 13 hours!

 

[ian87w]

That strategy did not hurt Apple in 2013 when they released the trashcan Mac Pro!
They announced it in WWDC and it did not ship till end of year.

The trashcan Mac Pro didn't "hurt" Apple because it's a low volume model. We're talking about the laptops here, which are high volume compared to the Mac Pro. Apple almost always have a tight shipping date for their laptops.

I'm guessing we will see regular models announced and shipped soon, and then the optional mini LED version later this year.

 

[RedTheReader]

Anyway, luckily we'll be wiser in about 13 hours!

I think you meant we’ll be depressed in about 13 hours! ?