Apple delays production of cheaper $799 MacBook Air

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A plain manila envelope became a key stage prop for selling the MacBook Air.
Apple hasn't revealed why production has been pushed back.
Photo: Apple

Volume production of Apple’s budget MacBook Air has reportedly been delayed until the second half of 2018, according to sources in the supply chain.

Usually reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously said he expected the next-gen MacBook Air to launch during the second quarter of this year, between April and June.

Apple hasn’t given suppliers a reason for pushing back manufacturing, although it may have something to do with problems with components such as processors.

This is apparently not an issue on the part of suppliers. Several MacBook Air supply chain players are ready to start production, and face low capacity utilization before Apple pulls the trigger on starting production.

A Chromebook beater?

The new MacBook Air will reportedly feature a “Retina high-resolution screen and Intel’s latest notebook processor.” In terms of price, it could be offered for as little as $799, with the hope that this could push up Mac sales by over 10 percent this year — possibly regaining some of the ground lost to the Chromebook.

Interestingly, today’s report notes that Apple has supposedly deferred volume production of several of its major product lines recently. These include the iPhone, HomePod and MacBook Air; most likely due to Apple adjusting its plans to changing demand.

Source: Digitimes

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