Apple is looking to diversify its assemblers for the Mac series to include not only Taiwan-based Quanta Computer and Foxconn Technology but also a few China-based suppliers, according to industry sources.
The sources pointed out that a Chinese assembler reportedly has already begun establishing production lines and is already performing pilot production, while another Chinese maker is eagerly striving for orders. So far, Apple's order distribution has not changed, the sources added.
Both Taiwanese ODMs declined to comment on their clients' moves.
Apple's new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros featuring miniLED displays and powered by the M1 Pro or M1 Max are both made by Quanta, the sources said.
Apple used to fully rely on Taiwanese makers to assemble its MacBooks as they are more experienced in related component procurement and logistics management than Chinese makers, while MacBooks' limited shipments in the past also made the strategy of having multiple makers ineffective in reducing costs, the sources noted.
However, with Chinese makers gaining more experience in notebook production in the past few years and MacBook shipments increasing with the adoption of the in-house developed M1 processors, Apple has become keener about outsourcing its notebook production to China-based makers.
Digitimes Research's latest figures from its 5-year (2022-2026) forecast report on the notebook industry also show global notebook shipments to rise 17.4% on year in 2021, but shipments of MacBooks are expected to pick up 27.21%.
Although all the notebook brands are expected to experience an on-year shipment decline in 2022, Apple will see the least decline of 2.9%, while the top-2 brands Hewlett-Packard (HP) and Dell will both witness an over 5% on-year decrease.
