We had high hopes for Apple's recently launched M2 chip, but it seems rival companies are keeping a wary eye on its success for fear it will take profits from Intel-powered Windows laptops.
As reported by MacRumors (opens in a new tab), this information comes from industry sources cited by Digitimes (opens in a new tab) who claim that the current generation of MacBooks are finally priced and performed right for Start attracting those who were previously disinterested. buy a Mac system.
The report says "A Wintel brand supplier noted that at a price point of €1,000 to €1,500, the MacBook Air would displace other high-end laptops. Upgrades to the M2 processor, camera lens, and bezel place the slight price increase of the new MacBook Air within an acceptable range for consumers".
Comparing prices is something TechRadar has been discussing since the previous 13-inch MacBook Air and MacBook Pro with M1 technology were released in 2020. For comparison purposes, the 15 Dell XPS 2020 was selling for €1,299 (around €1,030, AU$1,890) at launch for a 5th-gen Intel Core i8 processor, 256GB of RAM, and a XNUMXGB SSD.
The M1 MacBook Air, meanwhile, had a starting price of $999 / £999 / AU$1,599 at launch, and is likely to drop now that its M2-powered successor has been introduced, putting Windows alternatives at risk. with what Apple has to offer.
There are also fears that the current economic crisis facing Western markets could also cause sales figures to plummet as inflation and the cost of living continue to rise. This will not only affect the sale of Intel-based hardware, as people are unlikely to buy expensive technology in tough times.
Analysis: Success will also depend on the offer
It should be noted that Apple is still facing a supply chain crisis after lengthy Covid-19-related shutdowns at its manufacturing facilities in China, forcing production lines to shut down.
We've seen some 2021-inch MacBook Pro (14) and 2021-inch MacBook Pro (16) models become difficult to obtain, with current shipping estimates for new orders well into August, as well as rumors that the recently announced The M2 -The 13-inch MacBook Pro will also be affected by production delays.
That leaves the MacBook Air M2 in a bind. There are two potential scenarios: either supply for the rest of the Mac portfolio has been tightened to account for the anticipated popularity of the MacBook Air (given its consumer-friendly price), OR the Air will also be subject to the same problems. of supply. . .
Apple has also expressed its own concern that supply issues will affect its products throughout 2022, with nearly its entire Mac catalog affected by shipping delays (opens in a new tab), which could cost Apple. the company between 4.000 and 8.000 million dollars. Simply put, Apple can't be a threat to Windows 11-based products if it doesn't have inventory to sell them.
Apple needs to work on its supply chain, not just to ship its hardware, but also to reassure its fans that the products will still be available to buy now that it's finally onboarding even hardcore Windows fans. - Deserved market share for companies that do not have a waiting list.