- Orders for the new MacBook Pro M4 Max are delayed by up to two months
- Orders for the 128GB RAM configuration placed today will not ship until March
- This is likely due to the impending launch of the M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBooks, which are rumored for early 2026.
The PC hardware market is in a state of turmoil due to the RAM crisis, with prices skyrocketing across the board, but while this doesn’t seem to have affected Apple yet, some people ordering a new MacBook are facing delays for a completely different reason.
As reported by MacRumors, new MacBook Pro M4 Max orders are experiencing delays of up to two months, particularly in the US, with estimated delivery for 36GB of RAM and higher configurations shown in early February. Customers ordering the 128GB memory configuration are facing the longest delays, with these orders showing delivery dates in March.
While it might seem like these delays could be due to the current RAM crisis, it’s more likely due to Apple’s focus on the M5 Pro and M5 Max, and the MacBooks that run them. Apple may have reduced or stopped production of M4 MacBook Pros to allow stocks to run out before the new models are released.
Both chips are scheduled to launch in the first half of this year, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, which would explain why the delivery dates for the M4 Max MacBook Pro models are being delayed.
Now, that’s not to say that Apple is immune to any potential impact of price increases and component shortages due to RAM. However, Apple is expected to absorb DRAM costs in 2026 to avoid raising prices for customers, and hopefully that will extend to the M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBooks once they launch.
Apple’s MacBooks also use unified memory, which is on the same chip as the GPU and CPU, so while this doesn’t mean the company is immune to the current instability, it’s certainly safer than manufacturers that have to make big concessions in hardware.
Analysis: Apple may be safe, but other PC makers are in trouble
It looks like this RAM crisis could continue throughout 2026 as the focus on AI shows little to no signs of slowing down. I’m glad Apple is safe for now, because MacBook Pros are already expensive, but the rest of the PC hardware market is in a very shaky state.
It’s worth noting that Nvidia hasn’t completely abandoned its efforts to cater to RTX GPU users, especially with the recent release of DLSS 4.5. However, the shift towards AI is very evident, and the same goes for third-party manufacturers.
Desktop and laptop GPUs are one thing, but Micron recently shuttered its popular brand, Crucial, to focus on selling RAM to AI companies. While that doesn’t mean Crucial RAM is gone forever, it is an indication that the AI bubble is disappearing. massive, and it seems that some manufacturers will stop at nothing to profit from it.
I still fear that the longer this crisis lasts, the more collateral damage will continue, and that is not good news for any consumer.
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