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15-Inch MacBook Air Rumored to Launch in April as Display Production Begins
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The current M2 Air with 10-core GPU and 512GB hd is $1499 — these specs might end up being the base config for the 15”, in which case the price could easily be $1699. If they don’t match these specs, I could see the price being $1599, but I wouldn’t expect anything less than this. Of course, it somewhat depends on the chip variant they use. Should be interesting!
The most exciting product in a long time. As alluring as small-as-can-be laptops are, the practical difference between 12/13” and 15/16” is huge.
I disagree.Sure, and then when it gets to that the same text below applies to M5. This cycle is never ending.
Meanwhile, you could have a machine that you enjoy now. I get it though, having the false sense of "security" is probably better hence the wait game is chosen
Its not a never ending cycle. When the M3's eventually find their way into laptops I wont think maybe I'll wait for the M4 or M5. I'll think, sweet, this will last me a while and I need it now.
100% agree
I don't really enjoy using 12/13" laptops ... but when you add a couple extra inches it is totally transformative
I think it will be great if Apple releases a machine identical to the 13” Air in every way but screen size. I have always found it bizarre that to get an Apple laptop with a decent sized screen had to cost 2k or more. A Mac laptop with a 15” screen for 1500 or 1600 would fill a huge void in the Mac lineup.
I Hope this thing really happens. My wife has been hanging on to her aging 2016 15” MBP. The current air is too small (screen) and the 16” is way too clunky. A 15” air would be perfect (although even the current air design is a step down from the previous in terms of portability/lightweight feel).
This being Apple, I'd expect a 15" model exactly like the base 13" Air (with a bigger/similar display) for $1699 and I would be pleasantly surprised if it was $1599. Those hoping for 1399 or 1499 are dreaming, IMO. A price less than $1599 would kill sales of the 14" MacBook Pro.
I just wish there was some cooling. Air is great but hobbled by zero cooling.
And also touch capabilities tend to come at a cost in price, extra thickness layers, maybe worse reflectivity, less contrast ratio, etc…
Every time Max Tech shows a potential MacBook killer with its RTXs (that’s even more expensive than said MacBook) the first thing is that the screen even if 120 or 160 or similar Hz is quite less bright, less contrast, worse viewing angles, ghosting for fast moving things, quite average PPI, etc… “but it’s nice that it’s a touch screen”.
There’s also the whole ergonomics discussion… going over the keyboard through the whole laptop to reach the screen is quite exhausting, just thinking about it makes me second guess it. The screen either has to slide in closer or gets detached.
There’s a reason why the Apple iPad Smart Folio keyboards are quite short and small and the iPad itself is tilted in a couple slots, both angles being quite user front facing. The Apple Magic Keyboard whole design is around pushing the screen towards the user too, but can get away with more because there’s a trackpad and it’s expected to be used more.
It is likely to replace the 13” MBP in terms of price point but they would probably brand this as either a MacBook Air or just a MacBook. I would expect that MBP to go live on a farm in upstate where it will play with other touchbar laptops.
If you scale up a 13” MBA to 15” it will still be lighter than the 14” MBP. It will also have a larger screen and be less expensive. Not everyone needs all the performance.
You know it will. Remember that smaller sized SSDs in iPads were slower than the larger SSDs probably for the same reason of having dual chips. It’s pretty common. The recent SSD speed difference was noteworthy mainly because it changed between model revisions.I'm more interested in the debate of whether the base model will have a slower SSD or not
I'm surprised by so many random comments here. Why would this have ProMotion? Why would this have a fan?
ProMotion is for the MBPs, it's one of the premium features that upsells people. Also, no reason to include a fan because this is part of the Air line. Going back to the lineup differentiation, if you're doing intensive stuff that regularly needs a fan, you should be getting a MBP. Additionally, thermal throttling will begin occurring less frequently later on with the M3 because of the huge performance and efficiency gains it will bring.
No M3 in this 15" Air because it's too early, and it doesn't make sense based on the timeline. Apple will release this 15" Air around April with an M2. Then they will update the 13" Air with M3 around October. Then they'll update the 15" Air with M3 in April 2024.
They'll have a staggered cycle of M-chip upgrades, but that's better for them logistically. It staggers the releases, so it's better for their chip supplies, and it keeps people buying the same chip over about a year's time instead of one chip being released for so many different devices all at once.
ProMotion is for the MBPs, it's one of the premium features that upsells people. Also, no reason to include a fan because this is part of the Air line. Going back to the lineup differentiation, if you're doing intensive stuff that regularly needs a fan, you should be getting a MBP. Additionally, thermal throttling will begin occurring less frequently later on with the M3 because of the huge performance and efficiency gains it will bring.
No M3 in this 15" Air because it's too early, and it doesn't make sense based on the timeline. Apple will release this 15" Air around April with an M2. Then they will update the 13" Air with M3 around October. Then they'll update the 15" Air with M3 in April 2024.
They'll have a staggered cycle of M-chip upgrades, but that's better for them logistically. It staggers the releases, so it's better for their chip supplies, and it keeps people buying the same chip over about a year's time instead of one chip being released for so many different devices all at once.
The M2 has new core design and it runs at a slightly higher clock cycle so it is more than just a speeded up M1. It doesn’t overheat under normal operations, only when you really push it and even then it is a minor impact. The M3 being on a smaller node might run a little cooler, though.
Will be great to have a bigger Air. Will be good if it comes with a new colour option.
That older, non-retina model is the only Air that was lighter than today’s M2 Air. Once they added the retina screen, the weight went up. The M2 Air is really a marvel of packaging.
Intel
2009 3.0 lb (1.36 kg)
2010-2017 2.38 lb (1.08 kg)
2018 2.75 lb (1.25 kg)(retina)
2020 2.8 lb (1.29 kg)(retina)
AS
2020 M1 2.8 lb (1.29 kg)
2022 M2 2.7 lb (1.2 kg)
FYI @Kierkegaarden
That higher price is only because the lowest price 14” MBP has lower core counts using binned chips. It you configure the 14” and the 16” the same, there is only a $200 difference.
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No, MacBook Air pretty much always had a fan… one version even had a fan that literally blew air out the back rather than over a heat sink. Yes, I understand it is a way to segment product line but it leaves a lot of performance off the table. Omission of basic thermal regulation might not be strange to some but it is to me.
Behold, the 2018 MacBook Air with the fan to nowhere:
I would expect a 15” MBA to replace the 13” MBP in the lineup as the 4th laptop. The M1 is a leftover for price similar to Apple still selling 13 and 12 iPhones.
You ignored most of my message, so I'll reiterate. Apple is now using fans as one way to differentiate between The Air and the Pro. Furthermore, the upcoming M3 will make fans less necessary due to the large bump in performance and efficiency gains.No, MacBook Air pretty much always had a fan… one version even had a fan that literally blew air out the back rather than over a heat sink. Yes, I understand it is a way to segment product line but it leaves a lot of performance off the table. Omission of basic thermal regulation might not be strange to some but it is to me.
Behold, the 2018 MacBook Air with the fan to nowhere:
Who in their right mind would want a Midnight Colour Macbook? Have you not seen it in person at the Apple store with all the FINGER PRINTS and the side ports with the paint chipping off??