Macbook model shipments may fall by 30% in 2023
For the remaining duration of this year, it appears highly unlikely that Apple will unveil any new MacBook models, a decision poised to cast a shadow over the sales trajectory of Apple’s laptops, with shipments for the fourth quarter of 2023 projected to further decline. While Apple aspires to launch the M3 chip next year, synchronizing with a revamp of the MacBook lineup, the magnitude to which this enhancement will bolster Apple’s Mac sector remains shrouded in uncertainty.
Wccftech, in a recent expose, quoted an analyst purporting that MacBook shipments for 2023 may merely hover around 17 million units, with the fourth quarter witnessing a stark year-on-year decline of 35%, culminating in an annual reduction of 30% compared to the preceding year. Apple had pinned hopes on the newly minted 15-inch MacBook Air to invigorate shipments, albeit to seemingly muted success. Apple’s quandaries are not solely tethered to its Mac operations but extend to its iPad product range as well. Forecasts predict a somber 23% year-on-year downturn in the fourth quarter, painting a rather bleak picture.
Nevertheless, Apple remains sanguine about the prospects awaiting in 2024, particularly with the introduction of devices equipped with the M3 chip, envisaging a potential uptick in shipments. However, analytical firms regard this optimism with a skeptical lens, contending that a mere chip upgrade might not suffice to sustain shipment growth. Rumors have been rife, suggesting that due to the tepid demand for iPads and Mac products, Apple has drastically curtailed its orders for the M3 chip.
On one hand, the challenge of captivating customers through enhanced specifications is becoming increasingly intricate, and on the other, the average selling price of MacBook models conspicuously eclipses that of their Windows laptop counterparts, undoubtedly exerting a strain on Apple’s sales. This offers a plausible rationale for Apple’s prolonged gestation period for the new iMac Pro project, which has yet to yield a finished product. The prevailing economic headwinds and inflationary pressures have rendered consumers more judicious in prioritizing their expenditures, making them reticent to splurge on premium Mac products.
