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Apple's third quarter MacBook sales up 20% over last year

Chinese supply chain sources are pointing to increased MacBook Air and MacBook Pro sales, thanks to an increase in work-from-home activities.

Data from the supply chain suggests that Apple's MacBook sales — which includes the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air — have increased over 20 percent versus the same period in 2019. Apple likely owes part of its success to work-from-home initiatives brought about due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The report comes from DigiTimes, who points out that Taiwan's diode makers will "be able to maintain their shipment momentum in the third quarter of 2020. According to DigiTime's sources, diode makers expect to see their MacBook related shipments remain on a growth track in the third quarter.

The sources point out that diode makers haven't ramped up related shipments for next-generation iPhones, but instead are still shipping more diodes for older-generation iPhones. This may offer some validity to reports that the "iPhone 12" line would see a later than average release date.

DigiTimes is a good source of data from within the supply chain. It is notably worse at predicting Apple's product plans, or release timing. The MacBook Air and MacBook Pro sales are more of the former category of reports.