15-Inch MacBook Air Demand Reportedly 'Weaker Than Expected' So Far

[Max_G]

• M3 chip around the corner
• 256 Gb model slower than 512 Gb model
• 256 Gb / 8 Gb not realistic - Upgrades RAM and SSD very expensive
• Only one external display supported
• Macbook Pro 14" not much more expensive, yet much more powerful

• Covid gave a sales boost, people are already provided
• Inflation / High energy prices
• High interest rates
• War in Ukraine
• Summer

 

[AppleTO]

I think it is simply price compression. I picked up from Apple a refurb M2 MBP 14 with 1tb SSD for $1869. The MBA 15 with 16gb/1tb is $1899. For a $30 saving I got the superior 120hz miniLED screen, three TB4 ports, headphone jack, HDMI, SD card slot, and dual external monitor support. All for accepting 0.2# more weight, and a slightly thicker but narrower and shorter form factor.

I can see this in the US. However, in a lot of countries there is a much wider price gap between these models (due to exchange rate).

 

[Seanm87]

I had a 14 inch pro but the weight and power was overkill for me so I sold it. I would buy one of these in a heartbeat if it had 120hz. I can’t go back to 60hz now.

 

[Ethosik]

I do too. You'll likely be surprised. M1 is loaded with power for video processing. Handbrake seems to take great advantage of turning a polished, finalized prores file into a compact YouTube file. Just choose the preset you want and be sure to select the appropriate "video toolbox" option in the compression type choices.

Exporting to Apple Devices for HEVC is nice and fast within FCP. I am using a Mac Studio M2 Ultra though so I’m using the extra encoders. I have on average 8-10 hour videos so I have saved hours with the Ultra.

 

[Ethosik]

To all that say 256/8 config is not possible. It’s not possible for YOU. I know a web design firm that uses a base M1 Mac for 4K Photoshop and Final Cut Pro work for their advertising. It works for them just fine.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Exporting to Apple Devices for HEVC is nice and fast within FCP. I am using a Mac Studio M2 Ultra though so I’m using the extra encoders. I have on average 8-10 hour videos so I have saved hours with the Ultra.

I've tried it both ways (but generally only on 30-180 minute 1080p or 4K video), also on a Studio Ultra. Unless something changed very recently (last 6 or so months?), I find the "export to prores, then use HB "video toolbox" to compress the final file" approach FASTER. That's no putdown to Apple or FCPX- just what I've found first hand. On my next sizable export, I'll give it a fresh test.

I often export 3 or 4 files at a time and then put them in the HB queue. My Ultra will typically work on 4 at a time using the internal encoders, taking any multitasking weight off of FCPX for editing other things if I have more to edit. My most common approach is get a bundle of videos ready for compression, then run them in the HB Queue after hours/overnight. HB will even put the Mac to sleep when it finishes with the last file.

If you opt to try the same testing the other way, post back to let me know which way actually is faster in 2023. I wouldn't mind saving the second step in doing it my way of loading up the prores file into HB and then compressing it there. So if FCPX "direct" is now faster, I'd be happy to learn that.

 

[ccsicecoke]

If only Apple puts a SDXC card slot

and give an option for a matte display

 

[Doomtomb]

Give us that M3 chip and demand will go up.

I would rather see them up the base config from 8GB RAM/256GB SSD to 16/512 and that would increase demand more than a M3, mark my words.

 

[Analog Kid]

Too big for an ultralight category laptop, also too heavy. No active cooling. Notch. That's why I'd never consider one.

I'm not sure it's meant to be an "ultralight". It's meant to be normal. It's much lighter and more portable than the 16" Pro. The MBPs have become portable workstations, and most people can't even scratch the performance on them. They don't need the active cooling, and many (most?) of us don't notice or care about the notch but appreciate the edge to edge display.

I'm pretty sure when my current M1 MBP reaches end of life the 15" Air is where I'll find myself.

 

[Ethosik]

I've tried it both ways (but generally only on 30-180 minute 1080p or 4K video), also on a Studio Ultra. Unless something changed very recently (last 6 or so months?), I find the "export to prores, then use HB "video toolbox" to compress the final file" approach FASTER. That's no putdown to Apple or FCPX- just what I've found first hand. On my next sizable export, I'll give it a fresh test.

I often export 3 or 4 files at a time and then put them in the HB queue. My Ultra will typically work on 4 at a time using the internal encoders, taking any multitasking weight off of FCPX for editing other things if I have more to edit. My most common approach is get a bundle of videos ready for compression, then run them in the HB Queue after hours/overnight. HB will even put the Mac to sleep when it finishes with the last file.

If you opt to try the same testing the other way, post back to let me know which way actually is faster in 2023. I wouldn't mind saving the second step in doing it my way of loading up the prores file into HB and then compressing it there. So if FCPX "direct" is now faster, I'd be happy to learn that.

M2 fixed the scaling issues with the encoders. Only reason I upgraded and didn’t mind spending another $6,000. Plus you probably reach diminishing returns with videos as large as mine. I find essentially two exports far slower. It wastes about 4 hours to do it in a two step process. M2 Ultra is SIGNIFICANTLY FASTER than M1 so that helps a great deal with it too.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

M2 fixed the scaling issues with the encoders. Only reason I upgraded and didn’t mind spending another $6,000. Plus you probably reach diminishing returns with videos as large as mine. I find essentially two exports far slower. It wastes about 4 hours to do it in a two step process. M2 Ultra is SIGNIFICANTLY FASTER than M1 so that helps a great deal with it too.

Good to know. I'm quite pleased with the 2-step process on M1 so I'll likely stick until maybe M4 or M5 but glad the direct route from FCPX is faster on M2.

 

[Ethosik]

Good to know. I'm quite pleased with the 2-step process on M1 so I'll likely stick until maybe M4 or M5 but glad the direct route from FCPX is faster on M2.

Also my source files are ProRes. I’m sure yours are too since your first step is to export as it. But just calling that out for my process.

8-10 hour ProRes files are ridiculously large!

 

[bobcomer]

They don't need the active cooling,

For me to use one it would! I bought an M1 MBA on the first day I could pre-order it. It didn't work out for me as it ran far too hot.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Also my source files are ProRes. I’m sure yours are too since your first step is to export as it. But just calling that out for my process.

8-10 hour ProRes files are ridiculously large!

Amen to that. I get to 3 hours sometimes and those are whoppers. So yours are about triple whoppers.

Nevertheless, if you haven't tried it, you might try exporting one of your triple whoppers and then compressing it twice (FCPX vs. HB) and objectively see which is actually fastest. I'm presuming you've tested that but if not, it may be worth a test.

I'll be testing the other way on my next whopper to see what M1 Ultra can or can't do: FCPX compression vs. HB. I'll be happy to evolve my process if the "new" is better than the existing way.

 

[dandyryan]

that M2 chip is a year old. plus you're getting all these rumors M3 is dropping in a few months, so who's fault to blame?

 

[tripleburst]

If it was released along side the other M2 MacBooks it would have done way better. Timing is everything.

 

[azpc]

I think a big part of the issue is prices and specs. I have talked to several people either at school or Church lately who wanted to switch to a Mac. (I'm known as the Mac Guy at Church). They had seen a sale at Costco and wanted my thoughts before they ran to Costco and purchased a new Mac.

My first question was much storage are you using on your current PC? I then told them how to find that information. All of them were using more than 256 gigabytes of storage. It seems we have the iphone camera to thank for that!

Once they discovered that a new Mac with the proper amount of storage was going to cost a little less than $2,000 they lost interest. Dell appears to be selling a lot of XPS 13 and Inspiron 27's to wanna be Mac users.

I strongly suspect Apple could be selling twice as many laptops and iMacs at the current price if they came with a decent amount of storage and memory. Hard to introduce people to a nearly $2,000 Mac when Costco is selling Dell XPS 13 and Inspiron 27 machines for $1,199 with 16gb of ram and a 1tb ssd.

 

[Tagbert]

People used to laugh and denounce my idea that the 15" MacBook Air should get a better SoC cooling system. the 15" MacBook Air currently suffers from the thermal throttling that affects the 13" M2 MacBook Air, alas.

But does that actually impact how most people are using it? Does it slow down significantly during normal usage or only during occasional special operations? this is not like some old i7 Intel laptop that kicked in the fans and slowed down just blowing the web.

 

[Tagbert]

My view is that the 15” is, frankly, pointless. You lose all of the portability benefits of the smaller size and get none of the horsepower associated with the pro models.

You are assuming that most customers make the same power vs portability judgement as you. A lot of people don't need the power of a pro device but do need a larger screen. Many will only occasionally take their laptops out of the house. that is why 15" models are very popular in Windows laptops.

 

[Tagbert]

Drop the (obsolete) Touch Bar model. Is it still a mess?

It seems to be purchased in bulk by corporations and institutions. It's kept around to have a "pro" model at a particular price point. It's not really "obsolete" in function as it is basically an M2 Air with a different case.

 

[Digital Skunk]

If this is accurate, I think the issue may stem from the price/features/capability.

It was certainly the most anticipated computer for the past 3+ years ... the people who've waited for it are either grabbing it or waiting for the M3.

Personally, I had to decide whether or not the 15" Air with 2TBs was worth it vs a 14" MBP and I have a feeling a lot of people (once the hype died down) sat and made the same consideration. I'd wanted a 15" Air for so long, then decided to get a 14" MBP .... yet still use my 12.9" iPad Pro almost exclusively (esp. since FCP is amazing on it)

TL;DR - folks who wanted the 15" Air may have been enticed to the 14" MBP after comparing price and specs. Some few may have opted for the heavier 16" despite the weight.

 

[Robin Bonathan]

Initial customer demand for the new 15-inch MacBook Air has been "weaker than expected," according to a DigiTimes report citing sources within Apple's supply chain. The report claims that 15-inch MacBook Air shipment volume in July has been 50% less than originally estimated amid a broader downturn in the notebook market.

As a result of this "poor start," the report claims that some Apple suppliers have requested a reduction in 15-inch MacBook Air shipments.

Launched at WWDC last month, the 15-inch MacBook Air starts at $1,299 and has the same design and M2 chip as the 13-inch model, but with a larger display and two extra speakers. It is the first time that Apple has offered a 15-inch display for the MacBook Air, which was previously only available in 13-inch and discontinued 11-inch size options.

It's unclear if 15-inch MacBook Air demand has met Apple's own internal expectations so far. Apple is set to report its third quarter earnings results on August 3, and it may share some comments about the laptop then. Other new Macs launched during the quarter included spec-bumped Mac Studio and Mac Pro models.

The report claims that the MacBook supply chain can look forward to the "upcoming announcement" of a new MacBook Pro, without providing any additional details. The publication previously claimed that Apple plans to release a new 13-inch MacBook Pro with an M3 chip later this year. The M3 chip is widely expected to be fabricated with TSMC's 3nm process for significant performance and power efficiency improvements compared to the 5nm-based M2 chip in the existing 13-inch MacBook Pro.

Article Link: 15-Inch MacBook Air Demand Reportedly 'Weaker Than Expected' So Far

well i bought one.

 

[turbineseaplane]

It’s not about the M2 vs M3

It’s about the ridiculous upgrade pricing that takes a good starting price and quickly turns it into an overpriced machine.

 

[Tagbert]

Nevertheless, it is a ludicrous software limitation, probably so you get a pro; I can use Airplay to connect to my TV as a 3rd monitor on 4K@60Hz just fine while the other 2 are 1080p@144Hz on my mac mini, which is basically a MBA M1 sans the Display/Webcam.

Even cheap windows laptops can work around the limitation by disabling the built in display in settings if you want to connect one more monitor than supported by the hardware.

The M1/2 chips only have two display controllers built in and one is dedicated to the internal display. It's not a software limitation. To add more controllers would take more space on the SOC and they would get fewer chips out of a silicon wafer. It's possible that the 3nm or 2nm chips will be dense enough to add more controllers to the SOC while maintaining the output that they want for this. We'll see if the M3 generation lifts this limit.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

Not surprising. Mass market is just buying the entry level 13" m2 or m1 and more than happy with it. A 15" screen is as much a portability hassle as it is a convenience.