Apple's best-selling notebook is now almost impossible to get in its own store on short notice. The reason is not a lack of demand, but rather a component that data centers are currently buying up in enormous quantities – and Apple is simultaneously diverting its resources to another model.
For years, the MacBook Air has been the device with which most people enter Apple's notebook lineup. Ironically, this very model can currently only be ordered with a considerable lead time, even though the M5 generation was only introduced in March. This adds an unfortunate continuation to the price hikes of June 25th: higher prices apparently haven't dampened demand enough to ensure sufficient stock levels.
Key Facts at a Glance
- According to the report, orders placed in the Apple Store will not be delivered until the end of the month.
- Retailers describe availability as more strained than ever before for this model.
- The cause is the storage shortage, triggered by the expansion of AI data centers.
- Apple is currently favoring the entry-level MacBook Pro, thus clearing the way for a model update in the fall.
- A new MacBook Air is expected to follow only after that.
Weeks-long wait at the Apple Store
A check at the German Apple Store on August 2nd confirms the situation: For the base configuration of the MacBook Air, the store lists a delivery date between August 25th and September 1st – roughly three and a half to four weeks' wait. The report refers to the US store, meaning the shortage demonstrably extends to the German market. Retailers say that availability for this model is tighter than it has been in any remembered period.
A second clue lies in Apple's own advertising: In the materials for the back-to-school discount promotion, the company explicitly lists the MacBook Air with a availability clause. Such a disclaimer is unusual for a device mid-product cycle.
What's behind the scarcity
The trigger lies outside of Apple's product range. The construction of AI data centers is tying up enormous amounts of high-quality memory and has disrupted supply chains for ordinary consumer components. DRAM prices rose by around 98 percent in the first quarter of 2026 alone.
Apple absorbed the additional costs itself for months and only passed them on in June. The industry has long since demonstrated that additional suppliers don't automatically solve the problem: more memory manufacturers don't necessarily mean lower prices as long as data centers dictate the demand side.
At its earnings call at the end of July, Apple had already warned of significant supply shortages in the current quarter. The current situation with the MacBook Air is the first visible manifestation of this.
The MacBook Pro will be given priority
Adding to the shortage is a decision from Cupertino. Apple is currently prioritizing the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro to clear stock before a model refresh expected in the fall. According to the report, a new MacBook Air will only follow after that.
For buyers, this means a double scarcity: The component, which is already difficult to obtain, is preferentially used in another product.
How much the MacBook Air costs in Germany
The price increase on June 25th hit the Air hard. It came just under four months after the market launch of the M5 generation, which had already raised the entry price – but in return offered 512 GB instead of 256 GB of basic storage.
| Model | Price valid until June 24th. | Price since June 25th |
|---|---|---|
| MacBook Air M5, 13-inch, 8-core GPU | 1.199 € | 1.399 € |
| MacBook Air M5, 13-inch, 10-core GPU | 1.324 € | 1.509 € |
| MacBook Neo, 256 GB | 699 € | 799 € |
| MacBook Neo 512GB with Touch ID | 799 € | 899 € |
Apple recently described its internal decision-making process for such measures – the logic behind price increases is based on cost developments in the supply chain, not demand. The price hike also hit an already shrinking laptop market.
Why the Chinese storage doesn't help here
Apple has been working for weeks to source memory from China and is testing components from a controversial manufacturer. The crucial point in the current report is that this source is initially intended for devices sold in China.
For buyers in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, this release will not change availability in the short term. Those who need a MacBook Air in these countries have three options: wait, look for remaining stock at retailers – the MacBook Air is currently available at Amazon – or opt for a different model. This is where the MacBook Neo becomes interesting, as it costs around €600 less than the Air at €799. Whether the price difference is worth it depends primarily on the display and performance, as a direct comparison of the two models shows.
One word of caution: Apple hasn't ruled out further price adjustments. Waiting could therefore end up being more expensive than it should be with this device.
Apple's storage problem reaches the store shelves
Until now, the storage shortage has primarily been a question of price for customers. With the delivery times for the best-selling notebook, it is now, for the first time, also a question of availability.
The information regarding delivery times and internal priorities comes from the Bloomberg newsletter Power On. The price trends and Apple's warning about shortages, however, are documented – from the Apple Store price list and its own quarterly forecast. (Image: Apfelpatient)
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