15-Inch MacBook Air Will Reportedly Have M2 Chip

[MacRumors]

Apple's rumored 15-inch MacBook Air will be equipped with the M2 chip, according to Taiwanese supply chain publication DigiTimes. The report claims the laptop will be released in the second quarter of 2023, which runs from April through June.

"Industry sources said the 15-inch MacBook Air began mass production after the Lunar New Year and is expected to be released in the second quarter," the report reads.

Apple already updated the 13-inch MacBook Air with the M2 chip in July 2022. The chip is manufactured based on TSMC's second-generation 5nm process and is considered by some industry observers to be a stopgap until the 3nm-based M3 chip is ready. TSMC began mass production of 3nm chips in December.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo last year claimed that a new 15-inch MacBook with M2 and M2 Pro chip options would be released in the second quarter of 2023 or later. Kuo said this MacBook might not have Air branding.

The report's sources believe that Apple could update the MacBook Air again with the M3 chip in the second half of 2023. It would be unusual for Apple to update the MacBook Air twice in such a short timeframe, but it is certainly possible. The sources said the latest 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models were originally expected to be equipped with 3nm chips, but the M2 Pro and M2 Max are ultimately 5nm chips still.

This information comes just one day after display industry analyst Ross Young said Apple's supply chain started production of display panels for a 15-inch MacBook Air this month. Young estimated that the new MacBook Air will launch in "early April," which would be at the beginning of the second quarter timeframe reported today.

A new 15-inch display size would be the largest ever for the MacBook Air. The laptop has been offered in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes over the years.

Article Link: 15-Inch MacBook Air Will Reportedly Have M2 Chip

 

[GMShadow]

There's a few reasons to do it that way - cost for one - but I think the biggest one might be that Apple doesn't want to launch a product with M3 at the same time they're launching the new Mac Pro with an M2 derivative.

 

[mlrproducts]

This makes sense.

Everyone wants an Air with a bigger screen, so they are giving us a “current” air with a bigger screen.

Nothing to see here.

 

[jchap]

Air... Pro... MacBook... take your pick on the name.

If Apple's going to release this as a "lighter" Pro, is it then a Pro, or is it an Air? After all, they no longer have a 15-inch Pro in the lineup...

 

[senttoschool]

The report's sources believe that Apple could update the MacBook Air again with the M3 chip in the second half of 2023. It would be unusual for Apple to update the MacBook Air twice in such a short timeframe, but it is certainly possible.

This is certainly possible. The reason is that the M2 was late by 2 quarters due to the delay of the new 13" MacBook Air design.

Gurman also reported that M2 will be a short-lived generated.

I would be surprised if M3 didn't launch at WWDC or in Fall 2023.

 

[v0lume4]

Having been less than a year since the M2 launched, I don’t find this much of a surprise.

 

[Analog Kid]

"Product released before M3 might have M2 in it"

This doesn't seem like a revelation...

 

[iAppleOrchard]

Welp, guess I am not buying it until it has M3. I need the M3 chip and not willing to spend $1999 on it.

 

[syklee26]

Anyone who is looking for a super thin MacBook should not wait for M3.... M2 is plenty good enough. This 15 inch MacBook Air will be super popular. Now the price...

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Dang! I was hoping it was going to carry an M3 chip. However, The M2 chip is very powerful. We need an iMac carrying M2 chip.

It’s all good tho 15” screen size + all-day solid battery life + lightweight body design should be compelling enough to upgrade.

 

[tyr2]

> The sources said the latest 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models were originally expected to be equipped with 3nm chips

This was always nonsense from when it was first rumoured, the idea that there would be a 5nm and 3nm version of the same M2 core doesn't make any sense.

 

[bigpoppa]

Air... Pro... MacBook... take your pick on the name.

If Apple's going to release this as a "lighter" Pro, is it then a Pro, or is it an Air? After all, they no longer have a 15-inch Pro in the lineup...

As long as it doesn’t have an active cooling system like the Pro, it’s an Air.

 

[Chancha]

"Product released before M3 might have M2 in it"

This doesn't seem like a revelation...

Well it could have an M1 in it... right?

It's Tim Cook we're talking about. lol.

 

[terminator-jq]

It will be interesting to see if this 15” Air can also be configured with an M2 Pro. Might be the perfect setup for people who want a bigger screen and a little more power but don’t need the full MacBook Pro. Even if apple limits it to the binned version

 

[ccsicecoke]

No SDXC card slot. No buy

 

[Seeds]

This is certainly possible. The reason is that the M2 was late by 2 quarters due to the delay of the new 13" MacBook Air design.

Gurman also reported that M2 will be a short-lived generated.

I would be surprised if M3 didn't launch at WWDC or in Fall 2023.

Luke Miani made an interesting point about this, Luke Miani Video, he mentioned that DigiTimes said there would be a new "series" of MacBook Air in the second quarter, saying that by second quarter, they might actually release it closer to WWDC and use an M3. It would be pretty nice to see an M3 in this machine.

 

[v0lume4]

It will be interesting to see if this 15” Air can also be configured with an M2 Pro. Might be the perfect setup for people who want a bigger screen and a little more power but don’t need the full MacBook Pro. Even if apple limits it to the binned version

With the reports of the M2 running rather hot (and throttling, obviously) in the 13” Air, that’d be one hot tamale if they put a Pro chip in the Air.

 

[v0lume4]

Dang! I was hoping it was going to carry an M3 chip. However, The M2 chip is very powerful. We need an iMac carrying M2 chip.

It’s all good tho 15” screen size + all-day solid battery life + lightweight body design should be compelling enough to upgrade.

I wonder if the battery life will be significantly better than the 13” Air? They’ll have more room for a bigger battery. The only thing that would offset that larger battery is the bigger display.

 

[Seeds]

Anyone who is looking for a super thin MacBook should not wait for M3.... M2 is plenty good enough. This 15 inch MacBook Air will be super popular. Now the price...

But M3 should be a pretty good jump in performance, and will probably be in the current M2 Air body. Same thinness but more performance, would be nice.

 

[eicca]

In case this strikes anyone as a problem, just remember that the M2 has double (or more) the computing power of the classic Mac Pro that many pros are still using.

It’s an unbelievable piece of technology.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I wonder if the battery life will be significantly better than the 13” Air? They’ll have more room for a bigger battery. The only thing that would offset that larger battery is the bigger display.

I hope it does. If Apple can push it to solid all-day 24 hours. That would be awesome. What if the MacBook Air is carrying a Mini-LED display 🫣. However, seems like it’s already been confirmed that’s not going to happen.

Upcoming MacBook Air Models Rumored to Feature Two New Display Sizes but Miss Out on Mini-LED Technology

Apple's rumored 13- and 15-inch MacBook Air models will feature new display sizes, but will miss out on mini-LED and ProMotion technology,...

www.macrumors.com

 

[gleepskip]

No SDXC card slot. No buy

The vast majority of people don't need a SD card slot. I use SD cards for Raspberry Pi and as extra storage for handheld game consoles, but I have no need for a permanent slot on my Mac.

 

[Leon Ze Professional]

Welp, guess I am not buying it until it has M3. I need the M3 chip and not willing to spend $1999 on it.

You do realise that Apple will pass on the increased price TSMC is charging Apple for the production of M3 chips.

 

[gimarbazat]

sounds like it’s going to replace both the MacBook Pro and iPad pro.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Fingers are crossed, the new MacBook Air also comes in new colors.