Apple delay MacBook Pro launches over RAM

The rumors of a delay are grounded in a significant, industry-wide RAM and SSD shortage that is currently squeezing tech giants globally. As of April 2026, this supply chain bottleneck has reportedly pushed back several of Apple’s major hardware launches.

Here is the breakdown of the delayed products and the cause of the shortage.

1. The Delayed Models

According to reports from industry insiders like Mark Gurman and data from Goldman Sachs, two high-profile Mac launches have been pushed back:

• MacBook Pro (OLED/Touchscreen): The highly anticipated “first-ever” touchscreen MacBook Pro with an OLED display—originally rumored for late 2026—is now reportedly leaning toward a early 2027 launch.
• M5 Mac Studio: Previously expected to refresh in mid-2026, the M5 Max and Ultra versions are now delayed until at least October 2026.
• M5 Mac Mini: High-end configurations (32GB/64GB RAM) are currently listed as “unavailable” or facing 18-week shipping delays, suggesting the M5 refresh might wait until WWDC (June) or later to ensure stock.

2. The Culprit: The “AI Memory Tax”

The shortage isn’t due to a lack of innovation, but rather a global fight for components.

• AI Data Centers: Generative AI infrastructure (servers for OpenAI, Google, etc.) consumes massive amounts of high-performance DRAM. Currently, over 70% of global RAM supply is being hoarded by AI corporate giants, leaving consumer hardware brands like Apple fighting for the remaining 30%.
• Price Hikes: Apple has reportedly agreed to pay double the previous rate for Samsung’s DRAM chips to maintain some level of production.
• Current Stock Outs: On Apple’s online store, several RAM-intensive configurations of the existing M4 Mac Mini and Mac Studio are already showing as “currently unavailable,” a rare sight for the company.

3. The Silver Lining: Software is Ready

The delay is purely a hardware supply issue. Interestingly, the software side is ahead of schedule:

• macOS 27: The upcoming operating system (set for Fall 2026) already includes the groundwork for the delayed hardware, such as dynamically resized toolbar buttons and contextual menus designed specifically for the touchscreen interface.
• M5 Chip Success: The M5 and M5 Pro chips themselves were successfully unveiled in March 2026, featuring a “Fusion Architecture” that combines two dies into one SoC. They are currently shipping in the newest MacBook Air and standard MacBook Pro refreshes.

Summary of the “Mac Refresh” Timeline