Apple Orders 2.5 Million ARM-Based MacBook Laptops for Early 2021: Report

Apple has reportedly placed its initial production order of 2.5 million MacBook laptops powered by the rumoured in-house CPU. The suppliers are asked to fulfil the requirements by early 2021. Just like the iPhone, Apple is looking to introduced in-house silicon central processing units on its MacBook range of laptops. A report suggests that other MacBook models powered by the in-house CPU may be launched in the second quarter next year. Apple is also hosting an event on November 10 where new MacBook models are anticipated.

To recall, Apple is anticipated to launch new Apple Silicon-based MacBook laptops at its November 10 event. Now, a new report by Nikkei Asia notes that Apple has already asked suppliers to produce 2.5 million MacBook laptops introduced earlier this year with the new CPU by early 2021. It also claims the company will introduce new Apple Silicon MacBook models in the second quarter of 2021.

The report suggests that the initial production orders for the first MacBook laptops are equivalent to nearly 20 percent of total MacBook shipments for 2019 that came in at 12.6 million units. Apple plans to replace Intel microprocessors with its own CPU that is said to be based on the company's A14 Bionic SoC that is already powering the iPhone 12 series as well as the latest iPad Air models. The report says that Apple looks to completely cut off reliance on Intel in the next two years.

Apple's upcoming CPUs for the MacBook are reportedly designed in-house but produced by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC). They are made by TSMC's 5-nanometre chip manufacturing technology.

Apple has also reportedly asked suppliers to produce more than 2 crore units of iPhone 11, iPhone SE, and iPhone XR handsets from October through the year-end for holiday shopping season and early next year. This is because the iPhone 12 models are facing several supply and production issues due to the pandemic. The report says that the older iPhones produced after October will not come with a charger or wired earphones. Furthermore, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max are reported to have reached their end of product life and will no longer be produced.

"It's about time for the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max [to stop production]," Nikkei Asia reported citing anonymous sources, adding that the two models would "affect sales of the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max." The source explained that the specifications of iPhone 11 are sufficiently different to avoid that issue.

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