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Apple M5 MacBook supply, pricing, and performance updates

Updated 12 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-24 15:29 UTC → 2026-08-29 13:32 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Apple M5 MacBook ~~supply constraints~~ supply, pricing, and ~~market growth~~ performance updates

Apple’s M5 MacBook lineup continues to navigate a global DRAM shortage driven by AI data-center demand, which has caused significant shipment delays for the 13-inch MacBook Air. While the Air remains a top recommendation for university students due to its portability, buyers are cautioned regarding wait times. To assist with affordability, retailers like Amazon have introduced specific discounts, including a $150 reduction on a Sky Blue M5 MacBook Air with 24GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, priced at $1,649.99. Despite rising hardware costs—such as the $300 increase seen on 1TB MacBook Pro M5 models—Apple has experienced growth in popularity, becoming the fourth largest computer vendor in 2026. In the second quarter of the year, Mac sales reached approximately 6.7 million units globally, accounting for 10.1% of the market. Technical shifts have emerged in the Pro and Max variants, which now utilize chiplet technology for the first time. While the M5 Pro and M5 Max share identical CPU chiplets, the Max variant distinguishes itself with 40 GPU cores and a wider 384-bit memory interface. However, recent software developments have impacted performance; following the release of macOS 26.6.2, owners of the 16-inch M5 Max MacBook Pro reported performance drops during sustained workloads. Benchmarks suggest the update may have adjusted the ‘Automatic’ power profile to prioritize lower noise and temperature, reducing sustained wattage from 65 watts to 54 watts. Users can mitigate this by manually selecting the ‘High Power’ profile. As price hikes persist, analysts suggest consumers may want to wait for upcoming releases. Anticipation is building for a potential ~~“MacBook Ultra,”~~ ‘MacBook Ultra,’ which rumors suggest could introduce a tactile OLED experience during Apple’s annual autumn event.

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