Apple’s iPads and Macs might be in short supply this year

If you’re looking to buy a new iPad, a MacBook Pro, or perhaps one of the rumored, upcoming Macs with an M2 chip, you might have to wait in line for a while. 

During Apple’s quarterly earnings call on Wednesday, CEO Tim Cook said (via MacRumors) that Macs and iPads might be in short supply during the second half of the year. 

“(The) shortages primarily affect ‌iPad‌ and Mac. We expect to be supply gated, not demand gated,” said Cook, answering a question on chip shortages. Cook didn’t detail which products, specifically, will be affected, but he says Apple will do its best figure it all out. 

Apple CFO Luca Maestri also said the issue is a result of semiconductor shortages, and a “very high level of demand” for the iPad and Mac. Per Apple’s earnings report, the company had record sales in both the Mac and iPad categories in the quarter ending March 31, 2021 — $9.1 and $7.8 billion, respectively. According to Mestri, the shortages will likely impact Apple’s revenue in the third quarter of 2021. 

Combining this with rumors that Apple’s upcoming 12.9-inch iPad Pro with a mini-LED display will be in short supply due to issues with display manufacturing, it might be pretty hard to get your hands on one. The new iPad Pro was launched earlier this month, as was the new M1 iMac, and Apple said these products would be available in the second half of May.