15-Inch MacBook Air Rumored to Launch in April as Display Production Begins

[4743913]

not for me. The whole concept of the Air for me is smaller. weight, length, width.. no way I would tote a 15" Air. I would just go Macbook Pro 16"..

 

[MacRumorUser78]

As with all seemingly-odd Apple decisions, dig into where the most money is spent on Macs by consumers. You will find simple dollars & sense logic there.

This is the computer I might buy for use at the breakfast table and travel. A year ago I got an 13" Air for travel and now use at breakfast table. A 15" would be less convenient for travel but I still might upgrade.

 

[currentinterest]

The only likely difference between the 15 inch and 13 inch MacBook Air will be the display size. Same internals: same M2, no fan, no M2 Pro SoC. Depending on pricing it may launch at 16/512 at $1699-$1799. If it is 8/256 $1399-$1499.

 

[Dydegu]

Okay I’m interested.

 

[tstafford]

It's funny - I want a smaller "Air" not a bigger one. The 13" is neither fish nor foul. But it's still better than any other ultra book - so I am typing this on it right now.

 

[Tyler O'Bannon]

Yessssssss. Probably a less popular opinion, but I hope it is a MacBook Studio and replaces the M2 MBP 13.3”. I hope it has a fan with M2 and M2 Pro options.

 

[Realityck]

We can all agree that Apple makes fantastic but very expensive products. On the high-end you've got multi-core crunching, all-day battery beasts with gorgeous XDR screens, but the price tag is way out there. The 15-inch MBA will have fewer of those features and will fall in the best large-screen laptop for most people.

If this is a 15.5" MBA laptop as the rumor describes, then the battery capacity will need to be higher if it is using a 500 nit LCD screen. It will weight more than smaller 13.3" M2 MBP and 13.6" M2 MBA. You also have this being directly compared to the smaller 1600 nit 14.2" XDR display MBP that is M2 Pro 10-Core CPU/16-Core GPU,16GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD Storage for $1999 USD. If its a few hundred less, its going to be interesting to see if it fares as well as some think, especially when you kit it with more ram and storage? Also consider a M2 laptop has a max of 24GB Ram.

 

[Nsully59]

The only likely difference between the 15 inch and 13 inch MacBook Air will be the display size. Same internals: same M2, no fan, no M2 Pro SoC. Depending on pricing it may launch at 16/512 at $1699-$1799. If it is 8/256 $1399-$1499.

That sounds reasonable, and about what I'd expect. I'd love to see the 16/512 at $1,599, but I know that's wishful thinking. I'd love to just be able to walk into my local Best Buy and pick up a stock 16GB RAM Mac for that amount, skipping the online BTO, delivery wait/tracking, a box possibly sitting on my porch for hours, etc.

 

[tstafford]

If this is a 15.5" MBA laptop as the rumor describes, then the battery capacity will need to be higher if it is using a 500 nit LCD screen. It will weight more than smaller 13.3" M2 MBP and 13.6" M2 MBA. You also have this being directly compared to the smaller 1600 nit 14.2" XDR display MBP that is M2 Pro 10-Core CPU/16-Core GPU,16GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD Storage for $1999 USD. If its a few hundred less, its going to be interesting to see if it fares as well as some think, especially when you kit it with more ram and storage? Also consider a M2 laptop has a max of 24GB Ram.

Especially because by when it theoretically launches one won't have to pay full retail for a base MBP14.

 

[cocky jeremy]

It's honestly just the Midnight color for me. It's stunningly gorgeous. Something MacBook Pro lacks.

That's why I wasn't excited about the new MacBook Pros.

 

[surfzen21]

Why do you need M3?

M3 will probably be a substantial jump over M2 and future proof it a bit longer.

Which is why I'm waiting for the M3 chip as well.

 

[lJoSquaredl]

Keep the pro motion, but give me the contrast ratio of the Pro please. I'll legit be buying 2 of these instantly if it has Pro black levels.

 

[fourthtunz]

just get a MacBook Pro better value, what's the point in this one, whole idea of the air was slim light but the 13 one isn't really anymore

Its a lot lighter than the chunky old 15" 2014 MBPs that I have, I love my 13 M1 MBA but might get this depending on price and weight.

 

[fourthtunz]

I'm all for this as I would enjoy more screen real estate, but don't need the power of the Pro machines.

Be cool if they offered this even with the old M1, I'd buy it depending on price

 

[fourthtunz]

Its hard to imagine them launching this now, then updating it by October with M3. Might as well hold out until October and update the 13 inch to M3. Then launch M3 Pro/Max in March in the Pro line up.

heh they could laugh now with m1/m2 and then again in the fall with m3!
Clean up Apple!

 

[Freida]

and M4 too and then M5. Buy what you need now. Much better approach

M3 will probably be a substantial jump over M2 and future proof it a bit longer.

Which is why I'm waiting for the M3 chip as well.

 

[iObama]

Guessing $1799 for 8/256.

 

[TechnoMonk]

I personally don’t see the point of 15 Air. I will get a 16 inch MacBook Pro if I need a bigger laptop. I love the 13 inch MacBook Air, light and easy to move around.

 

[Surf760]

A 15" Air is a long overdue addition to the product lineup. As someone who has both 13" Air's and 14" MBPs running around their office, if you claim you can't notice the feel / weight difference between the two, then I call bs.

 

[TechnoMonk]

M3 will probably be a substantial jump over M2 and future proof it a bit longer.

Which is why I'm waiting for the M3 chip as well.

I heard M5 will likely be much better than m3.

 

[fourthtunz]

Seems funny how it's a huge priority to add yet-another notebook to an already rather complete line-up, when desktops (iMac and Mac Studio/Pro) are delayed and expected to get your by with two-year old specs.

I guess it depends how much you travel with your laptop? You can throw the old MBA m1 into a backpack and almost not know its there. I would have bought the 15" air if it had been available. Not sure they still need the the 13" MBP
but I sure there are people who want that!

 

[TechnoMonk]

A 15" Air is a long overdue addition to the product lineup. As someone who has both 13" Air's and 14" MBPs running around their office, if you claim you can't notice the feel / weight difference between the two, then I call bs.

I have a 16inch and MacBook Air 13. If I am getting a bigger screen, give me a workhorse. I will pick 13inch if I need something light. I need to see if the MacBook Air 15 is as light as 13.

 

[fourthtunz]

It would be madness to have a MacBook Air M1, Macbook Air M2 ánd a Macbook Air 15'' M3 in the lineup!

Bring on the madness!!

 

[Mr. Dee]

heh they could laugh now with m1/m2 and then again in the fall with m3!
Clean up Apple!

The M2 Pro/Max were expected last fall, but due to the supply chain issues, they had to delay to January. But the chip itself was ready. Its possible to put things back on track, M3 Pro/Max variants could actually show up this fall to realign schedules. The January launch was just a one off I believe.

So, this is how I see it:
M2 Ultra Mac Pro at March or April event, could be pushed out to Fall.
iPhone 15 Fall
MacBook Pro M3 Pro/Max
15/13 inch M3 MacBook Air at 2024 spring event

 

[lJoSquaredl]

I disabled pro motion on my MacBook Pro to save a bit of battery. I don’t see a difference. It’s not a phone.

Even when using the Pro Motion I find it inconsistent. Always dipping in FPS when playing games or swiping, very annoying and not worth it even when it is working imo. (the 1-60fps works great tho)