Retina on future MBA

[Trey M]

Call me crazy, but it seems the general consensus is that the next Macbook Air will have a Retina display. At least, a lot of what I've read has included people assuming there will be a Retina display. At first it seems logical, but when you really think about it, I really don't think there will be a retina display in the MBA.

The Air is a really, really great computer as it stands. I don't think Apple would really benefit by including a retina display on the Air, because the 13'' rMBP is just too similar in comparison.


For reference:

Macbook Air:
Height: 0.11-0.68 inch,
Weight: 2.96 pounds

13'' rMBP:
Height: 0.75 inch,
Weight: 3.57 pounds


When it really comes down to it, the machines are very similar EXCEPT for the screen. Which is my point exactly. I think Apple would benefit more by keeping the lower-end MBA without a Retina Display and keep the rMBP at its premium, justifying the price difference between the 2 by including a retina screen with the rMBP, along with a more powerful processor, etc. Even with all of that aside, it seems Apple had to go to great lengths to support the retina screen on both models of the rMBP- what makes people think they would be able to fit a much, much larger battery into the same or a similar enclosure for the Air? Apple has a track record of not sacrificing the user experience (in this case, battery life), even if it means excluding clearly superior technologies in their products (hint: iPhone 4S and LTE). Which, in the end, is probably the best choice for consumers, because battery life makes the difference between a great device and a bad one.

What do you all think? Do you think we'll see a Retina Air, or will Apple keep the current lineup with minor upgrades later in the year?

[Kartram]

My 0.2 cents; They might extend the battery life with the new Haswell platform. Reduce the bezel size around the screen. That will be it. No retina. They cannot support a retina display with the Intel 4600 series graphics.

[urkel]

Youre making an argument for why the Air doesnt NEED a Retina display, but lately what consumers "need" and what Apple "wants" have been two very separate things. Yes, the Air doesnt "need" Retina but Apple will sell a heck of a lot more Air's if they would put it in so there's no doubt that its coming if only because it is an easy way to get us to rebuy products we already own. (Just like with the iPad Mini, most Air owners would probably be very tempted to unnecessarily replace their perfectly good Air just for a Retina display).

[NutsNGum]

Originally Posted by Kartram

They cannot support a retina display with the Intel 4600 series graphics.

Wrong. The Retina Macbook Pro 13" does it capably on less.

[Trey M]

Originally Posted by urkel

...but Apple will sell a heck of a lot more Air's if they would put it in...

But if they sold a Retina Air, it would considerably eat into the sales of its higher end computer (13'' rMBP), so just the fact that they would be selling more Airs wouldn't really be ideal for them at all. A lot of consumers are going to buy the rMBP and take $300-400 price hit to their wallets just so they can have a Retina display, and Apple knows this.

----------

Originally Posted by Kartram

My 0.2 cents; They might extend the battery life with the new Haswell platform. Reduce the bezel size around the screen. That will be it. No retina. They cannot support a retina display with the Intel 4600 series graphics.

I can definitely see the next Air having a significantly increased battery life, with that being one of the selling points for the MBA. Just doesn't seem like Apple should make and sell 2 products that are nearly identical, so they should keep some features exclusive to the MBA and other features exclusive to the rMBP. So, in this case, the Air would benefit from better battery life and lighter chassis while the rMBP would benefit from power, the display, and a few other nice features.

[hackerwayne]

They might do the same like the MBPs. Release a radically new design RMBA and keep the old MBA, with the new RMBA $200 more then the standard one

[Saturn1217]

I completely agree and have stated as much to others.

Apple has in the past been completely comfortable in withholding certain features from what they consider their "low-end" products to keep their product lines straight and push people to the more premium models.

I mean the 13" cMBP never got a resolution upgrade in all the years of its existence even though they were selling the EXACT SAME SIZED 13" MBA with a higher res screen. It also never got discrete graphics or a matte display option. So I think Apple would be perfectly comfortable with keeping the MBAs at the standard resolution for a while.

I may be a little biased though because unlike most here I actively do NOT want a retina display. I actually bought the current 2012 MBA instead of waiting for Haswell on the off chance that the next MBAs are retina in which case I will hold onto this computer for the foreseeable future.

My current MBA is quite wonderful. There are only two things that could make it more wonderful: more battery life & a smaller footprint.

[Project538]

Originally Posted by Saturn1217

I actually bought the current 2012 MBA instead of waiting for Haswell on the off chance that the next MBAs are retina in which case I will hold onto this computer for the foreseeable future.

I did exact the same thing. I just bought it this week and am absolutely loving it! No regrets here. I see myself in a great position. If Apple does happen to do Retina MBAs, I'll be happy with the model I currently have. It will be the "perfected" version of the 2010-2012 run, whereas the hypothetical rMBA would be a revision-A product (which I don't want to mess with, especially going in to college where I need a reliable computer).

Conversely, if Apple only does a minor revision, I won't be missing out on much and get to enjoy my awesome 2012 MacBook Air. So hooray for that

[KPOM]

Originally Posted by Kartram

My 0.2 cents; They might extend the battery life with the new Haswell platform. Reduce the bezel size around the screen. That will be it. No retina. They cannot support a retina display with the Intel 4600 series graphics.

They do right now with the HD4000 on the 13" rMBP, so why not the HD4600?

----------

Originally Posted by Saturn1217

I may be a little biased though because unlike most here I actively do NOT want a retina display. I actually bought the current 2012 MBA instead of waiting for Haswell on the off chance that the next MBAs are retina in which case I will hold onto this computer for the foreseeable future.

My current MBA is quite wonderful. There are only two things that could make it more wonderful: more battery life & a smaller footprint.

Why do you actively not want a Retina Display (vs. merely being indifferent as to whether it has one)? I'd easily jump back to the MacBook Air 11.6" model if it came with a Retina Display. I used several MacBook Air model from February 2008-December 2012 but switched to the 13" rMBP. I like the screen a lot, but miss the portability of the 11.6". If they can pull it off with minimal weight gain, sign me up.

[urkel]

Originally Posted by Trey M

But if they sold a Retina Air, it would considerably eat into the sales of its higher end computer (13'' rMBP), so just the fact that they would be selling more Airs wouldn't really be ideal for them at all. A lot of consumers are going to buy the rMBP and take $300-400 price hit to their wallets just so they can have a Retina display, and Apple knows this.

I have a prejudice towards the "Apple would never cannibalize themselves" argument because it seems to never be true.

iPod Touch ate iPod sales
iPad Mini ate iPad sales
MacBook Pro 15/17 ate Mac Pro sales
MacBook Air ate MacBook Pro 13 sales

Apple cares about eating the competitors marketshare a lot more than they care about eating their own. So introducing a Retina Air may cut into rMBP13 sales but it would probably cut deeper into competing UltraBook sales, and I'd assume thats much more important to them.

[Trey M]

Originally Posted by hackerwayne

They might do the same like the MBPs. Release a radically new design RMBA and keep the old MBA, with the new RMBA $200 more then the standard one

I would certainly hope so! I feel that would honestly be the best choice for consumers, but I just don't know if Apple would do that.

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Originally Posted by urkel

I have a prejudice towards the "Apple would never cannibalize themselves" argument because it seems to never be true.

iPod Touch ate iPod sales
iPad Mini ate iPad sales
MacBook Pro 15/17 ate Mac Pro sales
MacBook Air ate MacBook Pro 13 sales

Apple cares about eating the competitors marketshare a lot more than they care about eating their own. So introducing a Retina Air may cut into rMBP13 sales but it would probably cut deeper into competing UltraBook sales, and I'd assume thats much more important to them.

I mean if Apple really did come out with a Retina Air that was cheaper than the 13'' rMBP, had good battery life, and the capacity to drive those graphics smoothly, then maybe you're right. Because that would be a ridiculously great device, and with it being cheaper than the rMBP, it'd be the best seller by far.

But you realize, Apple has to make all of the above true or else that device is a failure. I really don't think that device is ready in 2013, maybe not even till later in '14. For consumers to even consider it it'd have to be cheaper, as well, and I don't think they can just package all of that up and sell it for $1299. But who knows! It'll definitely be interesting to see how it unfolds.

[cjgonzales1900]

There is a chance Apple will introduce a rMBA. think about it.
the rMBP is for People who need it. Such as professionals etc.
A rMBA would be for everyday users, such as myself. If it doesn't happen this year then most likely next. I really hope this year, since I am planning on upgrading this year.

compare the prices:
MBA Base 13":$1200
rMBP Base 13":$1500
MBP Base 13":$1200

Apple is never worried about killing one of their own products, they always say if you don't kill your own product another company will.

Also pay attention to the fact that a lot of devices have gone retina. Except the MBA. All iOS devices, MBP (they introduced another version to replace the original.)

This is the new line up I think will happen:
MBP 13" Base Model: $1000-$1100 (Maybe) or (Education only)
rMBA 11" Base Model: $1000
rMBA 13" Base Model: $1200
rMBP 13" Base Model: $1500
rMBA 15" Base Model: $2200

They will kill the MacBook Pro off completely or keep the 13" for education or as a entry level base model at a cheaper price. Reasons: Every other computer has lost the optical drive, has went to flash for standard storage, except the mini and iMac because people use these to store items and SSD's are really expensive still.

By keeping these price points they will not steal any customers from the rMBP, they will just give the customers that use the entry level computer the retina screen on a rMBA.

The rMBP will be for Professionals and the rMBA will be for ordinary people, who do everyday things like check Facebook, email and watch youtube. Which the MBA is already good at!

What do you guys think?

[irDigital0l]

Honestly I just want
-Price drop
-Haswell
-More RAM
-Better battery

Retina display for a MBA isn't really on my wishlist.

[Cheffy Dave]

Eventually Apple will have retina across the board, it will separate them from the field

[Stetrain]

At this point the 13" rMBP is basically the closest that they can get to a retina Air with current CPU/GPU/battery/screen technology.

I do think that the Airs are in need of a screen update, but I could see that being a move to higher quality laminated displays without an increase in resolution.

Retina could follow in a couple of years as screen and battery tech allow it.

[Sophia.]

I think Apple will introduce a retina MBA before the year's end if they don't I'll eat my hat.

[thrilllho]

I'd rather them kill the bezel and give us more real estate that way. Slap a 12" into the 11" chassis. I'd buy this minute.

[merkinmuffley]

I believe the MBA will get a retina screen in 2013. I'd rather see an option for more memory, but retina would probably sell better than adding another 8GB to it.

[Trey M]

Originally Posted by Stetrain

At this point the 13" rMBP is basically the closest that they can get to a retina Air with current CPU/GPU/battery/screen technology.

I do think that the Airs are in need of a screen update, but I could see that being a move to higher quality laminated displays without an increase in resolution.

Retina could follow in a couple of years as screen and battery tech allow it.

That's a really great way to look at it. I agree because I really don't think they could just add a Retina display to the Air and just call it a day without having to really re-engineer the entire laptop and potentially make it thicker to accomodate the battery, etc. It'd also be nice to see some sort of laminated display like you were saying, who knows. But I definitely think we'll see a Retina Air or something similar in 2 years, but like you said, I just don't think we're there YET in 2013.

[oneMadRssn]

Originally Posted by Sophia.

I think Apple will introduce a retina MBA before the year's end if they don't I'll eat my hat.

Want some tabasco with that?

Originally Posted by Stetrain

At this point the 13" rMBP is basically the closest that they can get to a retina Air with current CPU/GPU/battery/screen technology.

I do think that the Airs are in need of a screen update, but I could see that being a move to higher quality laminated displays without an increase in resolution.

Retina could follow in a couple of years as screen and battery tech allow it.

I think you're right. Also worth noting is a pretty major difference between the 13" rMBP and MBA that people often overlook is the cpu. The MBA uses intel's ULV cpus (17w), but the rMBA uses intel's "regular" laptop cpus (25w-45w depending on model). This difference seems minor, but it actually reaches far as it affects the necessary battery size to hit apple's target battery life.

[stchman]

IMO, Apple will not put the Retina display on the MBA. Reason being is what would be the use of the 13" rMBP?

[Sophia.]

The thinner the MacBook Pros get the more likely it is Apple will eventually merge the two lines leaving Apple with just one laptop in two screen sizes.

If the goal is to make a laptop as light and thin as possible it doesn't make sense to make one heavier and thicker than the other just to preserve the MacBook Air. These are my thoughts at least.

[equalme]

I love my MBA, although mine is just a mid 2012 production, I would definitely look to upgrade if they update it with Retina (definitely would be a plus if they did the flushed blacked out bezel like on the MBP).

Although the different in size between the MBA and MBP is minor, I can still feel a big difference when picking each one up. So in my case, I would never purchase a MBP.

[skaertus]

Originally Posted by stchman

IMO, Apple will not put the Retina display on the MBA. Reason being is what would be the use of the 13" rMBP?

The rMBP is still more powerful than the MBA.

There are already 17 ultrabooks with a 1920x1080 resolution, which is far more than the 13" MBA and nearly double the number of pixels than the 11" MBA.

In June 2012, when the current MBA was released, there was only one ultrabook with such a display resolution: the Zenbook Prime, which had just been released. Now, there's a bunch of them, and the number is increasing fast.

Later this year, there will be ultrabooks with resolutions even higher than 1920x1080. In August 2012, Samsung showcased a Series 9 featuring a 2560x1440 display. At CES 2013, in January, Acer announced that it will release an ultrabook featuring a retina-like resolution later this year, equipped with the Haswell processor.

Well, Apple may or may not release a retina MBA this year. If it doesn't, it won't be the first one to release an ultra-thin laptop with such a high resolution, as other manufacturers will take the lead. If it does, it will cannibalize the 13" rMBP sales.

But sales of the 13" rMBP will be cannibalized anyway -- isn't it better for Apple to have them cannibalized by a rMBA instead of some Windows machines?

[interessiert]

Thats's what to say... 13" would be a wonderful product beneath rMBP 15" - the rest is to be done by iPad Mini with Retina or an overworked (lighter) iPad Retina we hope soon :-) (Apple will do the best for every hardware-branch - for sure)