In U.S. Apple Stores, what's likely to be available for pickup on March 18?

[F-Train]

I'm inclined to try to purchase a Mac Studio (M1 Max) on March 18 from one of the Apple stores in the New York City area, of which there are more than a dozen.

The base M1 Max is:
GPU: 24 Core
Memory: 32GB
Storage: 512GB

Based on previous rollouts, what's the likelihood that there will be some variations on that? Ideally, I'd like GPU 32-Core and Storage 1TB, but I may be willing to settle for base.

B&H might also be an option, but my strong preference is to purchase directly from Apple.

 

[Johnf1285]

I’m also curious about day one availability from retail Apple Stores. I have an M1 Max Mac Studio on order, but I am sort of regretting my customization choices and am thinking the base M1 Ultra would’ve been a better choice. Curious if I can find one of those on 3/18 instead.

 

[Juuro]

I’m also curious about day one availability from retail Apple Stores. I have an M1 Max Mac Studio on order, but I am sort of regretting my customization choices and am thinking the base M1 Ultra would’ve been a better choice. Curious if I can find one of those on 3/18 instead.

Jepp, same here. 😅
At the last MacBook Pro launch they had the base models in the stores and an apart from the SSD almost maxed out version each. So I'm guessing they at least have the two base models of the Studio and then maybe the M1 Ultra 20/64/128 4 TB version.

 

[Johnf1285]

Anyone who bought the latest MacBook Pro online for in store pick up on launch day have any insights to share?

I’m curious what time next Friday I should be refreshing the page repeatedly at in an attempt at purchasing one same day for pickup. 12am local time? 8am? Etc. I’m located in New Jersey and there are a few Apple Stores I can trek to if need be.

 

[LonestarOne]

The stores will likely have the base configurations available, if not in day one, then shortly thereafter. Apple retail stores draw their stock from a separate queue, so the fact that a product is back ordered online doesn’t mean they won’t have it.

Given the high demand for new products, it’s likely that stock will sell out within hours after it arrives, however. So, you may need to keep checking back each morning.

 

[Juuro]

Anyone who bought the latest MacBook Pro online for in store pick up on launch day have any insights to share?

I’m curious what time next Friday I should be refreshing the page repeatedly at in an attempt at purchasing one same day for pickup. 12am local time? 8am? Etc. I’m located in New Jersey and there are a few Apple Stores I can trek to if need be.

I did reserve the 14" base modal on release day around 2 pm and picked it up 90 minutes later. There I didn't see anyone with another MacBook Pro.
I suspect they don't stock as many Mac Studios as they did MacBook Pros back then.
Also I am in Germany (and have only one Apple Store in my area), so maybe that makes a difference, too. But at least model wise they seemed to have the same models in stock around the world.

 

[spiderpumpkin]

My preorder is arriving around April 1st, so I hope they have some alternate configurations at the Apple Stores during launch weekend.

Maybe one these 4 configurations in store?

Max 10/32 32GB 1TB
Max 10/32 64GB 1TB

Max 10/32 32GB 2TB
Max 10/32 64GB 2TB

 

[Juuro]

My preorder is arriving around April 1st, so I hope they have some alternate configurations at the Apple Stores during launch weekend.

Maybe one these 4 configurations in store?

Max 10/32 32GB 1TB
Max 10/32 64GB 1TB

Max 10/32 32GB 2TB
Max 10/32 64GB 2TB

I'm sure they'll have the base model.

 

[-narcan-]

I’m also curious about day one availability from retail Apple Stores. I have an M1 Max Mac Studio on order, but I am sort of regretting my customization choices and am thinking the base M1 Ultra would’ve been a better choice. Curious if I can find one of those on 3/18 instead.

Yeah, I originally ordered a 32 gpu M1 Max with 64gb and 2tb but felt was paying too much compared to the base ultra. So cancelled and now have the base ultra on order.

The enclosure feels like it was made for the Ultra, and something nice about having the worlds fastest desktop.

 

[Johnf1285]

Nice. I am just realizing now I should've ordered both configurations to secure a spot in line and then cancel/return one accordingly. I was too slow waffling over the configs that by the time I ordered it (maybe 15 minutes after the store came back online) that my date was pushed to March 30th to April 6th. Now at this rate adding/changing anything would push things to May!

 

[-narcan-]

Nice. I am just realizing now I should've ordered both configurations to secure a spot in line and then cancel/return one accordingly. I was too slow waffling over the configs that by the time I ordered it (maybe 15 minutes after the store came back online) that my date was pushed to March 30th to April 6th. Now at this rate adding/changing anything would push things to May!

Yeah I changed my order a day later and pushed the date from the 28th Mar to week of 4th April. But think whatever the delay, it's better to have the machine you want rather than compromising just for delivery date. Who knows, sometimes these things get delivered earlier too.

 

[F-Train]

I'm inclined to try to purchase a Mac Studio (M1 Max) on March 18 from one of the Apple stores in the New York City area, of which there are more than a dozen.

The base M1 Max is:
GPU: 24 Core
Memory: 32GB
Storage: 512GB

Based on what I learned today about experience with the 16" MacBook M1 Max, I'm willing to go ahead with the basic Mac Studio. If my local Apple stores have it with 1TB storage, that will work too. With a little luck, I'll have a new computer next Friday/Saturday.

 

[izzle22]

Based on what I learned today about experience with the 16" MacBook M1 Max, I'm willing to go ahead with the basic Mac Studio. If my local Apple stores have it with 1TB storage, that will work too. With a little luck, I'll have a new computer next Friday/Saturday.

This is exactly what I want to do. Hoping this same configuration is available in-store on Friday.

 

[LonestarOne]

This is exactly what I want to do. Hoping this same configuration is available in-store on Friday.

New lockdown in China may delay the start of shipments. Appleinsider has an article about it.

 

[F-Train]

New lockdown in China may delay the start of shipments. Appleinsider has an article about it.

In the NY City area, Best Buy is showing shipping of the base M1 Max next Wednesday. No variations though. Haven't checked the M1 Ultra.

 

[izzle22]

New lockdown in China may delay the start of shipments. Appleinsider has an article about it.

Not sure if this will have any impact on what's available in-store this Friday. I would assume all the products Apple is waiting to be in-store this week is already on it's way or in the US already.

 

[joker00]

Do you need to run to the store when it opens on March 18th, or can I order online with store delivery?

 

[LonestarOne]

In the NY City area, Best Buy is showing shipping of the base M1 Max next Wednesday. No variations though. Haven't checked the M1 Ultra.

I wouldn’t trust Best Buy. They couldn’t even give me an accurate installation date for my car radio. Their website doesn’t communicate properly with their in-store scheduling system, so they scheduled me for a time when the store was closed.

 

[VideoFreek]

In the past, they've tended to stock at least one high-spec version in stores. For example, right now I see that my local Apple Store has a MacBook Pro 14" M1 Max 10/32 with 64 GB RAM and 2 TB HD, in addition to the base models. It seems to be a bit hit-and-miss as to what they stock; with a pro-oriented machine such as this, I'd expect them to carry some higher configs.

B&H is showing just about every possible configuration on "Preorder" status; it remains to be seen what models they will actually stock. In the past, this has been pretty extensive. They are highly reputable, but the main disadvantage with B&H is that you can't return an opened computer if you change your mind.

 

[F-Train]

@VideoFreek B&H will also be closed from 2 PM Friday until 10 AM Sunday.

 

[LonestarOne]

B&H will also be closed from 2 PM Friday until 10 AM Sunday.

They always close from Friday afternoon through Saturday. The owners are Jewish and strictly observant.

 

[Foxer]

Is there an easy way to see what is in stock at Apple Stores? Other than configuring something in your cart and seeing if shows as available?

 

[F-Train]

Is there an easy way to see what is in stock at Apple Stores? Other than configuring something in your cart and seeing if shows as available?

As far as I know, you have to configure a machine. However, at that point you have access to a list of all of the area stores that says which ones have the configuration in stock.

I may show up at the store 1.5 miles from me when it opens at 10 AM, purchase an M1 Max if it has what I want, and, if not, ask the sales person if he can check stock at the dozen other local stores.

We also have a 24 hour store, and I'll see what it shows online late Thursday/early Friday.

 

[F-Train]

Wrong thread

 

[LonestarOne]

As far as I know, you have to configure a machine. However, at that point you have access to a list of all of the area stores that says which ones have the configuration in stock.

And it’s on a day-by-day basis. Even the people working in the store don’t know what they’ll have until the boxes arrive in the morning.