a 16gb version of this machine is a 5+ week wait?

[NLLV]

This is pretty disappointing to say the least. Did everyone ordering a 16gb version wait that long?
I was planning on ordering on the 27th to take advantage of the Black Friday promo and purchasing applecare with the gift card.

When I go to order, the option for 16 gigabytes changes the status to no store pickups, and delivery december 28-january 2nd.

I have researched this and it seems that at 8gb, working with 8k video takes 5x as long, everything else seems on par. Will I work with 8k? in the future yes, when? Who knows.

Am I really right to be concerned? Should I stick with 8gb? What did you do?

 

[MorganB]

Which machine? Apple will have 16gb versions of their M1 computers in their stores with other specs maxed as well if you are looking for more storage.

 

[edk99]

Why second guess yourself if you get the 8gb version. Order the 16gb version and wait. Do you not have a machine right now?

 

[cupcakes2000]

You sometimes have to wait in life. That’s life!

 

[Maconplasma]

SMH. It's so bizarre how people don't seem to understand that COVID is the reason for slow product shipments. It hasn't gone away. It's affecting EVERY retailer and corporation who ships goods, especially when production is done in China or oversees. I just checked for a base model MBA. No upgrades. It's 2-3 week wait. Understandable. Just because it's Apple doesn't mean that Apple has special powers beyond COVID. Just be patient and wait it out like everyone else has to.

 

[ArPe]

Stores are priority. Rent has to be paid. The 16GB appears in stock and sells out almost immediately. Gotta keep refreshing and hit the buy button quickly.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

SMH. It's so bizarre how people don't seem to understand that COVID is the reason for slow product shipments. It hasn't gone away. It's affecting EVERY retailer and corporation who ships goods, especially when production is done in China or oversees. I just checked for a base model MBA. No upgrades. It's 2-3 week wait. Understandable. Just because it's Apple doesn't mean that Apple has special powers beyond COVID. Just be patient and wait it out like everyone else has to.

The fact that Apple flooded the retail channel with 8GB models and no 16GB models has nothing to do with COVID. There are actually plenty of 8GB models of MBA and Mini M1 in retail stores in my area I can go walk in and get TODAY. But there are ZERO 16GB models. Never were any 16GB models from Day 1.

There literally isn't any change but one chip to make 16GB model. I'm not sure why there aren't any retail 16GB models, but it isn't because of COVID because there are plenty of 8GB models!

 

[NLLV]

Which machine? Apple will have 16gb versions of their M1 computers in their stores with other specs maxed as well if you are looking for more storage.

The website allows for a bigger SSD but not more ram when I try and change it. Any ram changes automatically gets rid of the store pickup (there are THREE apple stores in Las Vegas) and tells me the long shipping is the only option.

 

[MK500]

I bought my 16/512 Air immediately at launch 11/10 and received it on 11/17. I think sales volume has just been extremely high once the reviews were out. I predict these are going to be some of their best selling Macs of all time.

Note that my ship estimate was 24th through 27th for the first few days; so Apple sometimes beats expectations.

 

[NLLV]

SMH. It's so bizarre how people don't seem to understand that COVID is the reason for slow product shipments. It hasn't gone away. It's affecting EVERY retailer and corporation who ships goods, especially when production is done in China or oversees. I just checked for a base model MBA. No upgrades. It's 2-3 week wait. Understandable. Just because it's Apple doesn't mean that Apple has special powers beyond COVID. Just be patient and wait it out like everyone else has to.

I love my mac, but I will not be an apologist.

They took a guess as to what machine and price people people would want, the made a LOT of those, and now people want the one they have to build from scratch.

I can understand when I bought my iMac in september.
That machine had FOUR things that could be changed (HDD, RAM, CPU, GPU) however this literally has TWO.

 

[ikenstein]

Did you try 16GB with 1TB drive? That seems to be the only 16GB configuration they are stocking in stores. It's the one I picked up on the 17th

 

[norbinhouston]

Apple wants you to order the 16gb from them.

 

[trailmonkey]

I think everyone who ordered the 16Gb options by COB 16th managed to get on the first proper wave and have pretty quick lead times. Everyone else, like me who ordered on the 17th, lost several days - 10 in my case as my ETA went from late Nov to 15th Dec overnight. With more and more reviews coming out and Christmas on the horizon, people are snapping them up.

 

[hugodrax]

Wow 16gb models are now a 2021 wait. Never seen anything this crazy. I think at first people were skeptical but now its like everyone heading for the doors to buy them once reviews came out. Apple really downplayed these machines in the event for some reason and now word of mouth is why these things are selling like hot cakes.

Wow even gone on ebay now except a few international sellers for big bucks.

 

[Maconplasma]

The fact that Apple flooded the retail channel with 8GB models and no 16GB models has nothing to do with COVID. There are actually plenty of 8GB models of MBA and Mini M1 in retail stores in my area I can go walk in and get TODAY. But there are ZERO 16GB models. Never were any 16GB models from Day 1.

There literally isn't any change but one chip to make 16GB model. I'm not sure why there aren't any retail 16GB models, but it isn't because of COVID because there are plenty of 8GB models!

The fact that you have no idea what you're talking about has everything to do with it. I live right in California just 40 minutes from Apple's HQ and 15 minutes away from 5 different Apple stores and none of them have the base MacBook Air. Don't say Apple flooded anything just because it's available in your area. Good for you.

And the fact that adding 16GB is a BTO option and it has to come from China says everything about COVID. But since you're so hellbent on believing otherwise then prove to me that its not due to COVID. I'd love to see your proof.

 

[Maconplasma]

I love my mac, but I will not be an apologist.

They took a guess as to what machine and price people people would want, the made a LOT of those, and now people want the one they have to build from scratch.

I can understand when I bought my iMac in september.
That machine had FOUR things that could be changed (HDD, RAM, CPU, GPU) however this literally has TWO.

Doesn't matter if it's one or ten upgrades added, it's still a BTO option that needs to be done in China. And it would be stupid of Apple to have a bunch of different configs available when they are introducing a whole new system that they have no idea how it will sell at a constant. But if you wanna stay blind to COVID just to pout about your lack of patience then by all means enjoy.

 

[MK500]

Never seen anything this crazy.

You should see what PS5, Xbox, AMD RX 6800 XT, and Nvidia 3080 buyers have been going through. Lines around the block with 5 to 10 units in-store. Selling out online in milliseconds. Apple is a complete rock star compared to the rest of the tech industry right now. Nobody else seems to be able to deliver much of anything right now.

 

[neinjohn]

I did the check on 5 Apple sites on Europe (France, Spain, UK, Germany and Portugal) and the latest ship time is 23rd December for the 16gb variant for tiny Portugal.

Strange. I would expect the USA to have the better supply routes, or thrice the size, for a company as Apple.

Correction: 2-3 weeks is the estimated time for Dispatch on France, Spain, UK and Germany. On the Portuguese though it says correctly delivery from 16th to 23th December. Shouldn't different for the others. Of course, if there are no delays.

 

[neinjohn]

You should see what PS5, Xbox, AMD RX 6800 XT, and Nvidia 3080 buyers have been going through. Lines around the block with 5 to 10 units in-store. Selling out online in milliseconds. Apple is a complete rock star compared to the rest of the tech industry right now. Nobody else seems to be able to deliver much of anything right now.

Or for even longer many decent AMD laptops with the latest Renoir CPU since April throughout Europe and USA. Plenty gave up and bought Intel or even the new Macs.

 

[richard371]

I got lucky and found a 16/1TB in stock so decided to pick that up and cancel my 16/512. Keep trying.

 

[Maconplasma]

You should see what PS5, Xbox, AMD RX 6800 XT, and Nvidia 3080 buyers have been going through. Lines around the block with 5 to 10 units in-store. Selling out online in milliseconds. Apple is a complete rock star compared to the rest of the tech industry right now. Nobody else seems to be able to deliver much of anything right now.

Agreed. Not to get off topic but Sony has only two products they have to deliver for the holidays (PS5/PS5 Digital) and they've been hyping this up since summer. They've had plenty of time to produce products. They are holding back for hype reasons only.

 

[NLLV]

You should see what PS5, Xbox, AMD RX 6800 XT, and Nvidia 3080 buyers have been going through. Lines around the block with 5 to 10 units in-store. Selling out online in milliseconds. Apple is a complete rock star compared to the rest of the tech industry right now. Nobody else seems to be able to deliver much of anything right now.

Probably not the case here.
If you look at the 5 year chart on the actual manufacturing index in china, it is where it was pre-covid.

China Caixin Manufacturing PMI

Manufacturing PMI in China increased to 50.30 points in October from 49.30 points in September of 2024. This page provides the latest reported value for - China Manufacturing PMI - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar...

tradingeconomics.com

 

[ascender]

I know Apple Stores will stock a 1TB w/16GB RAM model, but I really wish there was an "off the shelf" version of at least the Pro with 16GB RAM as other retailers would be able to stock that and it would help with availability.

The 16GB BTO thing has been an annoyance for as long as I can remember.

All I will say is that my 16GB Air arrived nearly 2 weeks earlier than Apple said it would, so if you definitely want the extra RAM I'd just order it and be patient.

 

[jrgl050]

I bought my 16/512 Air immediately at launch 11/10 and received it on 11/17. I think sales volume has just been extremely high once the reviews were out. I predict these are going to be some of their best selling Macs of all time.

Note that my ship estimate was 24th through 27th for the first few days; so Apple sometimes beats expectations.

Same here, just replace Air for 16/256 Mac Mini. Ordered 11/10 - Received on 11/17 after an initial ship estimate between 24-27 Nov.

 

[Ethosik]

You should see what PS5, Xbox, AMD RX 6800 XT, and Nvidia 3080 buyers have been going through. Lines around the block with 5 to 10 units in-store. Selling out online in milliseconds. Apple is a complete rock star compared to the rest of the tech industry right now. Nobody else seems to be able to deliver much of anything right now.

I seriously wish more companies would operate like Apple. If you run out of stock, still sell and allow people to order with an estimated delivery time. It took a month for me to get an iPad Pro recently.

I definitely think this would help the scalping situation SOME. Not all, but some. If people can order an RTX 3080 and have it estimated deliver in a month or so, that will give a lot of buyers enough to relax for a few weeks. Instead of going on eBay and paying someone $1,500 for the same card.