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2013 MacBook Air predictions

D

dmelgar

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Apr 29, 2005
1,587
160
Now that the 2012 Macbook Air's have been out for a while, what can Apple do to top it? What will the 2013 Macbook Air wow us with?

Some possibilities:
  • Faster CPU. Seems that CPUs aren't getting that much faster. Maybe a quad core? Would a CPU boost be a big deal (2-3x) or minor 10-20%?
  • Bigger SSD. This seems like a given. SSD prices are dropping like a rock. I'd guess today's 256GB will be next years 512GB. 256GB as the base, 512GB upgrade and maybe even a 1TB.
  • Faster SSD. Can they really get much faster? They're pretty much filling up the 6Gbps channel.
  • Retina display. Would be nice. I'd expect doubling of a lower resolution, such as doubling the 1280x800 of the 13" MBP to 2560x1600 rather than doubling the MBA13's already higher 1440x900. Does this take more power? Is it the display or the GPU that needs the additional power. If it really needs more power, assuming the battery doesn't get better, seems unlikely in the MBA. Need the larger volume in the rMBP.
  • Faster GPU. Not sure if this is needed for retina. The current GPU can already handle the higher res.
  • One more thing. What can Apple surprise us with?
Overall, would be it a compelling update? Worth the wait?
 
K

KPOM

macrumors P6
Oct 23, 2010
18,030
7,870
The Intel Haswell processor (4th generation Core) will be out next year. It should provide another big jump for the CPU (much bigger than the jump from Sandy Bridge to Ivy Bridge), while also providing an improved GPU.

Whether it gets a Retina Display option may depend on the power consumption of the display. Apple might not be able to quadruple the resolution in a year without too much of a drain on the battery.
 
M

mikeray

macrumors regular
Jan 17, 2006
215
67
Brooklyn, NY
I don't really see it going quad core because they have to be ulv processors. I need to brush up on my Haswell knowledge though, it may be possible with that architecture.

Definitely an increase in SSD size for the baseline model.
 
Last edited:
W

WRP

macrumors 6502a
Jul 20, 2011
511
4
Boston
dmelgar said:
Now that the 2012 Macbook Air's have been out for a while, what can Apple do to top it? What will the 2013 Macbook Air wow us with?

Some possibilities:
  • Faster CPU. Seems that CPUs aren't getting that much faster. Maybe a quad core? Would a CPU boost be a big deal (2-3x) or minor 10-20%?
  • Bigger SSD. This seems like a given. SSD prices are dropping like a rock. I'd guess today's 256GB will be next years 512GB. 256GB as the base, 512GB upgrade and maybe even a 1TB.
Click to expand...


  • Really going out on a limb with those huh?
 
mattopotamus

mattopotamus

macrumors G5
Jun 12, 2012
14,666
5,879
no way you will see quad core...that would really hurt the pro sales, and no way a retina display. I think the 2013 will bring the new CPU which will help out the battery life, and maybe a higher resolution. Retina's on airs are a long way out.
 
S

Stetrain

macrumors 68040
Feb 6, 2009
3,550
20
My prediction:

Haswell CPU/GPU combo. A bit better performance, especially on the GPU end, but also fewer components on the logic board because of the integrated controller.

128GB 13" Air drops to $999. 64GB 11" Air for $899.

SSD options a bit cheaper.

Everything else stays the same. No retina displays in the Air line for at least 2 years.
 
C

calvol

macrumors 6502a
Feb 3, 2011
995
4
IPS screen for sure. (no Retina till OLED, low power screens available)

Smaller bezel, smaller form factor (see Dell XPS)

Mag-Safe 3. (back to L-design)

Bottom vents. (better cooling design)

NFC. (touch to synch)
 
Barna Biro

Barna Biro

macrumors 6502a
Sep 25, 2011
653
33
Zug, Switzerland
No prediction... I'm happy with the current one ( will surely remain to be for quite a few years to come ) so I'm proud to be ignorant and not care / think about any future models. Whatever might come, will come...
 
L

lonewolf604

macrumors newbie
Jun 15, 2012
28
0
Hmm well lets see, its probably, PROBABLY going to have better graphics. And its probably, and I say PROBABLY, have a better processor. And I'm not too sure about this, about it might come with more ram standard.
 
mattopotamus

mattopotamus

macrumors G5
Jun 12, 2012
14,666
5,879
calvol said:
IPS screen for sure. (no Retina till OLED, low power screens available)

Smaller bezel, smaller form factor (see Dell XPS)

Mag-Safe 3. (back to L-design)

Bottom vents. (better cooling design)

NFC. (touch to synch)
Click to expand...

i would be shocked if they changed to a new charger so quickly
 
B

boomboom2

macrumors regular
Apr 12, 2012
116
0
I don't think the Air line will get a retina for a while. They're mainstream and will keep the Retina for the prosumer MBP line.
 
R

riveting

macrumors 6502
Mar 11, 2009
262
0
I just wish they had put an IPS screen rather than TN panel, also, a bit more battery life would be great, otherwise, Air is great for what it is.
 
Z

Ztormie

macrumors regular
Oct 30, 2009
119
5
Goodfella3.2 said:
Really? I mean.. really???
Click to expand...

Yarly.jpg
 
T

The Catalyst

macrumors 6502
Dec 4, 2009
450
70
2013 Macbook Air predictions

I predict the 2013 MBA won't live up to any of our expectations...

which will in turn lead to many "should I wait for the 2014 MBA" threads.
 
A

ayres

macrumors 6502
Sep 27, 2010
290
50
either further price drop in base model price, or...

256gb storage in the base model 13mba...
 
W

Wokis

macrumors 6502a
Jul 3, 2012
931
1,276
Stockholm, Sweden
They might get rid of 64GB in the base 11" model but I don't believe 128GB will be going away as it will likely suffice for many users the next year too. Maybe they'll lower prices by $100. Component price drops, such as ssd, would be taken in for account for that, rather than upgrading base models.

I think Intel's Haswell platform will have to serve the most notable news. Maybe a 4-core ULV or just remarkably improved clock speed or IPC.

GPU is likely becoming much better although I doubt it will suffice for "retina"-resolutions. They might stick with the current panels one more year and go OLED after that.
 
K

kodeman53

macrumors 65816
May 4, 2012
1,091
1
Here's my prediction that is guaranteed to happen with the 2013 MBA.

Apple will use multiple suppliers for one or more internal parts that someone on MR will discover and proceed to 'identify' supposed quality and/or performance differences, start a thread that will go on and on until the 2014 MBAs are available.
 
PeterJP

PeterJP

macrumors 65816
Feb 2, 2012
1,136
896
Leuven, Belgium
robvas said:
Usb 4.0
Click to expand...

Yeah, I was going to increase everything by 1 too:
- i6 processor (i8 optional) at 2.7 (or 3.0) GHz
- 5GB RAM (9GB optional)
- Intel HD 4001
- 721p camera
- 3 USB 4.0 ports, 2 MagSafe 3 connectors
- 65GB SSD (upgradeable up to 513GB)
- BlueTooth 5.0
- Wi-Fi 803.11 ! Finally !
- Retina2 (TM) display ! Quadruples the Retina resolution, so you get 5464x3072 on the 11". Suddenly, everybody (and their grandmothers) need 17 megapixel screens to make those DSLRs with 12MP look silly.


Peter.
 
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