MacBook Air Drives 6.5 Million Apple Laptop Shipments in Q3 2021

Apple shipped 6.5 million laptops in the third quarter of this year, thanks in large part to high demand for the M1-powered MacBook Air.

macbook air m1 unboxing feature
That's according to research firm Strategy Analytics, whose data put Apple as the fourth largest seller of laptops between July and September, earning it 10% of the global market share and 10% growth year-on-year.

Lenovo took first place in the top five by shipping 15.3 million units, amounting to 23% market share, while HP and Dell shipped 14.3 million and 12.2 million units to earn 21% and 18% market share, respectively.

According to the report, most vendors grew on top of record 2020 levels, while Dell topped growth rates with a massive 50% increase year-on-year. At the same time, consumer spending increased thanks to higher discounts on premium products like ‌MacBook Air‌.

strategy analytics laptop shipments q3 2021
Including other brands outside of the top five, 66.8 million laptops were shipped in the quarter, although the figure would likely have been higher had it not been for the supply constraints and chip shortages that have hit tech companies, including Apple.

Apple last week reported Mac revenue of $9.17 billion in the fourth quarter of its 2021 fiscal year, which is an all-time quarterly revenue record for Macs. Apple CEO Tim Cook said there was "strong demand" for the M1 ‌MacBook Air‌ in particular.

Apple is expected to release a ‌MacBook Air‌ with an entirely new design and an Apple-designed M2 chip in around six to eight months from now. Rumors suggest the notebook will have a similar design as the 24-inch iMac, including off-white bezels around the display and a variety of color choices.

Related Roundup: MacBook Air
Related Forum: MacBook Air

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Top Rated Comments

TopToffee Avatar
48 months ago

Good stuff. Keep buying them folks. Iron out all the cracks for me, build up the user base. See you in about 5 years.
Look forward to seeing you then. Meanwhile I'll have been enjoying 5 years of superior laptops.

M1 Air is a truly astonishing bit of kit. The combination of form factor, price, performance and battery life is simply incredible.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Michael Scrip Avatar
48 months ago

Apple Silicon is already really paying off apparently.
Apple Silicon got me to buy my first Mac... an M1 Macbook Air 16GB/1TB

It'll be my travel computer. Lightweight... plenty powerful... incredible battery life... I can charge it with a tiny USB-C charger... no fans... etc.

I'm not leaving my big honkin' Windows desktop though. I'm still happy in that world.

But this is the first Mac that ever got me curious. Good job Apple.

:)
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GuruZac Avatar
48 months ago
Love my M1 Air. Wonderful efficient little powerhouse.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dantracht Avatar
48 months ago
Not surprised at all. I sold my Intel 16" for an M1 MBA last December. Best MacBook I've ever owned, pending the arrival of my M1 Max MBP, that is.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
arvinsim Avatar
48 months ago
Still the best value Macbook.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jonnysods Avatar
48 months ago
I replaced my MBA with the 14" MBP. Missing the extra battery life on the MBA!
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)