Some MacBook Pro models will not arrive to customers until December

Apple recently launched the redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with the new M1 Pro, M1 Max processors. Customers who custom-ordered the new laptops were supposed to receive them on October 26. However, they are waking up to find emails from Apple starting that their Mac will not arrive until mid-December.

Shipping dates for some MacBook Pro models have slipped into mid-December

As the new Macs have started to arrive for preorder customers, some other models have been delayed. According to 9to5Mac, the delays are affecting custom configurations of the new machines. The delays are affecting the custom 16-inch variant more so than its smaller counterpart.

The 16-inch MacBook Pro is even more affected by delays. Upgrading to the top-tier Apple M1 Max chip with a 10-core CPU, 32-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine pushes shipping estimates to early/mid-December. Upgrading from 32GB of memory to 64GB of memory further delays delivery until as late as December 23.

“There’s been a change to your delivery date,” says the email from Apple. “The most current delivery information is shown below. We’ll notify you when your order ships.”

In the cases of both models, it appears that affected customers used Build to Order or Configure to Order to pick from Apple’s various purchasing options. Regular models have started arriving to customers and are now appearing in stores for immediate pickup.

The much-awaited 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models were unveiled at Apple’s virtual ‘Unleashed’ event alongside third-generation AirPods and new color options for HomePod mini. These new powerful machines feature M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, an updated design, mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR display with 120Hz ProMotion technology, MagSafe 3 charging, 1080p camera, 6-speaker audio, studio-quality mics, SD-card slot and HDMI port, and more.