MacBook Air shortages blamed on 'Ramaggedon' as Apple pushes Pro models

Apple is experiencing an unusual supply crunch for its MacBook Air laptop. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, retail sources indicate that the lightweight model is so scarce that orders placed today won't arrive until the end of August. Adding to the frustration, prices have recently risen from $1,099 to $1,299.

In a rare move, Apple is steering customers toward the base MacBook Pro instead of the Air across its website and retail stores. Some marketing materials even include the warning: "MacBook Air subject to availability." Typically, Apple has little trouble meeting demand for its laptops, but current conditions are far from normal.

The shortage is partly linked to the ongoing "Ramaggedon" — a memory chip crunch caused by insatiable demand from new AI data centers. Gurman also reports that Apple is prioritizing the 14-inch MacBook Pro over the Air to clear inventory ahead of an anticipated M6 refresh for that lineup.

Despite beating Wall Street expectations in its latest earnings report, Apple warned investors and customers that supply constraints could impact next quarter's results and force further price increases. Meanwhile, the new Apple Upgrade program introduced last week may drive even higher demand for Apple products, including MacBooks.