15-Inch MacBook Air Teardown Reveals Familiar Design and Upgraded Six-Speaker Sound System

[ric22]

Looks like there was space to add an extra USB port on the other side, as every 15" laptop in existence should have... Perhaps they should add that to the list of obligatory optional extras to get a decent machine, alongside the nasty miniature base SSD?

If they could manage to fit USB ports on both sides 12 years ago on a smaller MacBook Air, I'm pretty sure it's intentional gimping.

Much the same as how the base 128GB SSD from 12 years ago cost a ton more than the 256GB insult we've offered today. Gimping is depressing 😢

 

[fourthtunz]

All I know is that my 15 inch Air is a slick machine no matter the internals. I love the screen size, and the speakers are better than expected. This is the machine to get, IMO, unless you know for certain that you need something more powerful.

I can’t believe how long the battery last on this thing I keep watching movies and the battery just lasts! How many PCs have a battery that last this long? Whatever it’s a great machine and I thought the price was pretty reasonable for what it is.!

 

[fourthtunz]

Also gotta see how they sound since the new MBA design is speak grills free

In effect i think the MBA M1 sounds better than the M2, in spite of having only 2 speakers

And soundstage is even wider ofc , since they come from each side of the device, and not from the bottom

I love the new 15 inch better than my old 13 inch M1 the sound is louder and just better

 

[Orange Bat]

I can’t believe how long the battery last on this thing I keep watching movies and the battery just lasts! How many PCs have a battery that last this long? Whatever it’s a great machine and I thought the price was pretty reasonable for what it is.!

I haven’t taken it below 80% yet, and I’ve been using it for work every day. It’s pretty great.

 

[jmgregory1]

lol batteries today is the same lith ion as it was 10 years ago, back then the battery in the macs were rated for 1000 cycle, same as it is today. companies like tesla and CATL are making new chemistry in the 4680 cells but its capacity still cannot match the 18650 cells first introduced back in the early 2010s.

I should have been more clear, that between the battery tech (chemistry and production) and charging controls from 10+ years ago until today, things have changed significantly. Just because Apple rates the batteries at the same 1000 cycles doesn’t mean anything other than the fact that they’ll support the batteries lasting this long. Going back to the time when Apple used user-replaceable batteries in their laptops, I went through multiple Apple-branded replacements that all experienced the same swelling.

 

[jlc1978]

If they could manage to fit USB ports on both sides 12 years ago on a smaller MacBook Air, I'm pretty sure it's intentional gimping.

That vintage Air also had 2 USB ports so it’s the same setup, no gimping.

Much the same as how the base 128GB SSD from 12 years ago cost a ton more than the 256GB insult we've offered today. Gimping is depressing 😢

Not sure of your point but in real dollars the current Air is ~30% cheaper, reflecting lower costs as tech got better and cheaper.

 

[ric22]

That vintage Air also had 2 USB ports so it’s the same setup, no gimping.



Not sure of your point but in real dollars the current Air is ~30% cheaper, reflecting lower costs as tech got better and cheaper.

The vintage Air was a 13" laptop, not a 15" laptop. Add to that, one USB port on each side > than two on the same side. It isn't even up for debate that they're gimping the port selection- it's a fact, that we've been aware Apple have been doing for years and years.

I was comparing the price of the SSDs, not the laptops, and the price SSDs command has dramatically decreased, so your "real dollars" argument is misplaced.

 

[jlc1978]

The vintage Air was a 13" laptop, not a 15" laptop.

So you are agreeing your comparison is invalid because it is not the same machine?

Add to that, one USB port on each side > than two on the same side.

You claimed they were gimping the ports because they didn’t add one yet they have the same number, so now you change the goalpost.

It isn't even up for debate that they're gimping the port selection- it's a fact, that we've been aware Apple have been doing for years and years.

Sure it is, despite what you claim.

I was comparing the price of the SSDs, not the laptops, and the price SSDs command has dramatically decreased, so your "real dollars" argument is misplaced.

Sure it is, because it shows Apple has not raised prices like they would to match inflation, and lower SSD prices can be part of the reason they didn’t.

 

[ric22]

So you are agreeing your comparison is invalid because it is not the same machine?



You claimed they were gimping the ports because they didn’t add one yet they have the same number, so now you change the goalpost.



Sure it is, despite what you claim.



Sure it is, because it shows Apple has not raised prices like they would to match inflation, and lower SSD prices can be part of the reason they didn’t.

There's no point engaging with each other if you're going to be this daft. I get it, you love Apple and feel the hurt when someone else isn't full of praise for them. Oh deary me.

 

[jlc1978]

There's no point engaging with each other if you're going to be this daft. I get it, you love Apple and feel the hurt when someone else isn't full of praise for them. Oh deary me.

And you choose to engage in ad homeniums instead of laying out your arguments, so yes, debating with you is pointless; so feel free not to reply.

Personally, other people's feelings towards Apple's products is irrelevant; they are tools I use to run a business; however when they present subjective opinions as facts I point out the fallacy, such as Apple is somehow gimping a machine when it has the same number of ports as before, in their arguments.

Apple made a number of design decisions that you may not like, just as they make ones I don't, but that is not indicative of a grand conspiracy to make people buy more expensive machines. Each of their machines meet the needs of an audience, even if it is not to your needs.

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