Apple’s rumored MacBook Pro with M2 Pro and Max chips has suffered another delay according to the latest rumors.
According to a report from DigiTimes (opens in a new tab)marked by Tom’s Hardware (opens in a new tab)these 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models have been “delayed again” (if you recall, these refreshes have originally scheduled to launch in late 2022). Many recent rumors suggest that we could see the laptops in Q1 of this year, but now DigiTimes is saying that they won’t launch in early 2023.
Of course, as always with gossip, we need to be very careful when taking this at face value. What we weren’t told is when the MacBook Pro will actually arrive, but we can tap into another source for more information here.
Mark Gurman just said (in his newsletter) that the refurbished MacBook Pro will launch in the first half of 2023, where the famous leaker previously confirmed a possible launch date of Q1. That seems to suggest that the launch has been pushed to Q2 2023.
DigiTimes also tells us that MacBook shipments will drop sharply this quarter and could be around 40% to 50% lower than in the final quarter of 2022. Although the decline is expected from Q4 to Q1 – as busy sales move into a quiet phase – the magnitude of this drop is, if true, staggering.
Analysis: Perhaps a WWDC premiere?
If the new MacBook Pro models are delayed (again) to Q2, we might consider a June launch – because that’s when WWDC 2023 happens. Traditionally, WWDC is not about hardware, we have seen devices show up at the event and indeed last year we saw M2 MacBook Air’s appearance.
Other rumors surrounding the upcoming MacBook Pro, again from Gurman, suggest that the laptop will keep the existing design and features of the current versions and that the only real upgrade will be the suite. processor, with M2 Pro and Max chips inside. The leaker recently said that we can expect a “borderline” increase in performance, so overall, hope is far from being built around what these new laptops do. will bring.
Which leaves you wondering why – if there aren’t any major changes – the MacBook Pro is being delayed; what could be the problem here? We can only guess that it could be related to those new supercharged M2 SoCs, or it could be due to reduced shipment numbers.
As pointed out by Tom’s Hardware, the 50% drop in shipments is related to weaker Q4 demand for MacBooks and therefore higher current laptop inventory levels. So maybe it’s a case of selling out of existing inventory and not wanting to show off the upcoming new MacBook Pro – which could encourage buyers to keep the new models – until current stock changes. change a bit?
