2022 MacBook Air Rumors: Non-Tapered Design With Notched Mini-LED Display, MagSafe, 'M2' Chip, and More

Rychiar said:
can they lose the stupid air name already? its so irrelevant in 2021. just call it the MacBook and have it come in different price points like they do with the pro. save the confusion
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A renaming makes perfect sense with a redesigned chassis and the discontinuation of the 13" MBP.
 
I was never interested in the MBA before Apple Silicon because it was so underpowered, didn’t have very good battery life and screen wasn’t very good until the last generation.

The current MBA M1 is however probably my favorite laptop ever. I have only 2 real complaints. It only supports one external display and only has two thunderbolt ports. Would love if if they added support for an additional external display and had say a MagSafe and a Thunderbolt port on one side (or even just a USB-C) and 2 thunderbolt ports on the other.
 
azentropy said:
I was never interested in the MBA before Apple Silicon because it was so underpowered, didn’t have very good battery life and screen wasn’t very good until the last generation.

The current MBA M1 is however probably my favorite laptop ever. I have only 2 real complaints. It only supports one external display and only has two thunderbolt ports. Would love if if they added support for an additional external display and had say a MagSafe and a Thunderbolt port on one side (or even just a USB-C) and 2 thunderbolt ports on the other.
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It seems with the M2 MBA the HDMI port may be omitted, compare to the prior generation MBA it had MagSafe, Audio Jack, SD Card reader and two USB-3 ports.
 
cBraunDesign said:
In my opinion they should discontinue the 13" MacBook Pro, and absorb the Air and Pro monikers into just the "MacBook." Thin out the new Pro design, make it colorful, with a white keyboard area. No HDMI, SD or active cooling, so the base can be around the same thickness as an iPad Pro. Keep the cost down by having a more traditional screen without ProMotion. Fewer strange product overlaps, and an entirely new notebook lineup.

The only question mark would be the area around the display. With a white keyboard area, would the bezels look strange in white? Would the notch be white?

Edit: Here's a mockup:View attachment 1872447
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I do like the blue and colors are fine as long as they do offer some nice non bright colors (like the blue and silver on the 24" iMacs). However a white/light grey bezel would be a deal breaker for me. I don't care what anyone else says, I know my eyes don't like the light colored bezels and I'm never going back to them.
 
mattopotamus said:
"The current ‌MacBook Air‌ was announced in November 2020, and 334 days have passed since its release as of writing. The average time between ‌MacBook Air‌ updates in the last few years is 398 days, which suggests an update is overdue."

Explain that overdue math to me?
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You forgot to carry the 1 ...
 
Anyone else really hoping for a larger MacBook air. For anyone who wants a larger screen but otherwise is fine with MBA level performance the 16" MBP is overkill and so heavy.

I just need a large screen and the ability to connect to more than one monitor. Otherwise the current M1 air would be perfect. The 2016-2019 MBPs sucked for a lot of reasons but for a non-pro user being able to have a 15" display in a 4lb package was AMAZING. Can we get that back?
 
IMO. Apple is starting to separate the "Pro" devices with PRO-Motion. So the Non-Pro devices will be stuck at 60hz but the display's will probably get mini-LED since apple does like to simplify their designs and use the same form across devices (Iphone 13 and 13 pro displays) and keep the brightness the same as the new MBP's but no pro motion.

Having said that. It seems with Apple's current track record with the Ipad pros and Iphone pros. The next MacBook Air will be the same screen size as the 14" MBP with mini led and high nits brightness (same brightness as Iphone 13's non-pro's) and a fairly similar body size as well (simplify supply chains and manufacturing) same thing as Ip13 & Ip13 pro.

So the Professionals that need the extra "horse-power" and pro 120hz will get them with the pro devices.

The rest of us plebs will get the normal iphone 13 and macbook with 60hz (uniformity across device categories).

All devices will get mag-safe as well. since all Iphone 13's have it.
 
contacos said:
It’s a shame they did not release it now. I probably won’t be using half the power of the 14 inch Pro I have just ordered but I didn’t want to wait anymore to replace my MBP from 2012
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Yeah I'm in the exact same boat, even upgrading from a 2012 model. I figure, if I'm not making the most of the very expensive 14 inch Pro and the new Air suits my needds, the Pro won't have lost much value so I could probably downgrade fairly easily.
 
GuruZac said:
In my opinion at this point, the 13” M1 MBP doesn’t make sense. It offers essentially negligible performance over an equivalent M1 MBA while costing more. You don’t get any additional performance options on the MBP vs MBA. If you want a ‘Pro’ machine, buy the new 14” or 16”.
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Firstly, I agree that the 13" needs to be refreshed (who would buy with the touchbar now?).

But - the difference between the Pro and the Air is the cooling. If you are actually pushing your machine hard the Pro will handle that better.
 
I like the wedge shape too, anything else will seem chunky in comparison, someone mentioned a possible HDMI port, this would mean a thicker base :( Am intrigued though, even though only recently picked up a M1 Air.
 
That render looks really good. Much prefer that design over the 2021 MBPs, the chassis just looks somehow outdated to me (although I agree that it shouldn't be form over function).
 
aapl owner said:
What is the reason to keep the old 13" MBP or upgrade it to a 14"? The 13" MBP was a stopgap until the real MBP's arrived a year later that's why it only changed the CPU/GPU nothing external. The current 13" MBP is dead and will not be upgraded since it no longer serves a purpose.
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To give the illusion of a "middle option" since otherwise you'd have a $1000 starting price gap between the MBA and MBP.
Who knows though, maybe once the redesigned MBA comes out, the 13" MBP will become the "MacBook SE" in a sense, being the cheaper option, old design, but still getting the latest chip upgrades.
 
The iphone comes in colors, and features a black front/bezel.
I would venture to bet they continue that trend with these Airs.
 
HobeSoundDarryl said:
Do we really think M2 would seem to step back from something branded M1 (Pro & Max)? Yes, I know how things have been done with A-series processors. But why not proceed directly to M2 Pro & Max instead of "only" M2... then wait-wait-wait for the equivalents of what was just released in M2 pro & max? Again, I understand how things have worked with A-series chips over the years but M is not obligated to replicate the A pattern.

Does iMac 27-30" roll out with M2 while laptops released about "6" months ago have "tangibly more power/capabilities?" Are we enthusiastic about that if that's how it rolls? Premier Apple desktops NOT as toe-to-toe powerful as 6-month-old laptops optimized for mobile/battery power?

And for what real purpose? Once the "power" cat is out of the bag, why somewhat put it back in? If Pro & Max are basically M-Series release 2, shouldn't release 3 build upon them in what amounts to 2-4 or 5 Macs to be updated: iMac 27-30, maybe Mac Mini, Pro and/or maybe hypothetical Pro Jr... plus one laptop model (air)?

I would think that other than those who really need new desktops, the reveal of Pro & Max begs for "waiting" on M2 Pro & Max if "only" M2 is rolled out in the next round. Unless I really needed a new Mac, I'd probably wait for Fall if M2 doesn't tangibly overrun these new M1 chips.

The trick with applying A-series updates is that, in general, the bulk of the products that use the new chip almost entirely roll out at the same time of year- FALL (with only a few exceptions). Here you have a diverse line of Macs that seems like they will NOT all get on a big annual release schedule... so which makes the most sense to get the "higher number" chip? To me, it seems the "power" Macs should have the most powerful chips. If M2 is not Pro & Max updated, would it be seen as the most powerful chip or would Macs not traditionally viewed as the most powerful Macs have the power Ms and the big desktops have what might be argued as a weaker one?

If we envision iPhone tick-tock like updates, would an iMac (bigger) roll out with M2 and then iMac 24" get M2 Pro & Max in the Fall? That doesn't seem to make much sense.

Or would we envision maybe M1 Pro & Max in these spring releases too?

Or the config CHOICES of new Macs with M2 OR M1 Pro & Max? It seems pretty easy to envision arguments flying against the new M2 because M1 Pro & Max have "more power"... unless M2 is better in the ways that Pro & Max are now... which then seems to effectively point to building on M2 Pro & Max vs. some M2 minus those goodies that came with those new chips.

None of this is any kind of attack on Apple. As a consumer of Apple products, I'm simply thinking out loud... and questioning the broad assumption that M-series will tick-tock just like A-series chips have. Given that computing devices mostly plugged in don't need optimization that phones/tablets need, I'm not seeing WHY that's an applicable assumption. Instead, I'm thinking we just had the second generation of M revealed to us. Wow! Very impressive gains!!!

The traditionally MOST powerful Macs that still need to transition seem like they should get a third generation that rises even higher in ALL the ways that these do. Else, what happens in the fourth round of Mac upgrades next fall: several with M1s now inherit the M2 and those upgraded in the spring get upgraded again to M2 pro & max or M3 in the Fall (2 iterations of iMac 27-30 in 2022 in only about 6-8 months)?

Or would laptops- like iPhone- generally lead with the most powerful M chips and desktops generally be behind a M-chip generation/iteration?

Regardless of naming and A-series tick-tock history, I would think the premier desktops of iMac (bigger) and maybe Pro probably MUST step up M again... not with a higher number printed on the chip but with equivalent pro & max power upgrade. Maybe M2 for Air and Mini and M2 Pro & Max for iMac (bigger) and Pro/Pro Jr?
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The M-series chips are being presented in a classic Good/Better/Best market segmentation. This strategy gives Apple and the customers a range of products with price levels and corresponding performance levels that should meet the widest range of customers while also maximizing Apple's profits.

M1/M2 is Good. it is the least powerful of the range (though still better than the competition) and is placed in the lowest price products The Air, low end MBP, and the small iMac. it also gets the best battery life due to the lower power.

M1 Pro is Better. it is more powerful than the M1 and more expensive. It is suitable for the next level upgrades of the Pro lines.

M1 Max is Best. even more powerful and even more expensive and power hungry. Currently just in the Pro laptop line.

When they get to the Mac Pro, the chips for that will probably be even bigger and better so that would add a 4th tier to the segmentation. That level will be even more powerful and even more expensive.

This gives you a stair step for sales. Most users can come in to the lower line products and be satisfied without spending too much money. They will be enticed by the next segment up and may decide to spend a little more money to upgrade, "just in case".

This same thing happen on the higher segments. Users see a machine that meets their needs but for just a little more, they could get something even better and can be justified so they go for the next segment up.

Currently, as they are getting things setup, the timing can be a little off, but there will always be some delay as the more powerful and expensive versions are produced, so you will always have some lower end products with newer generation chips while the higher end products are getting the previous generation but are still faster due to more cores.

By creating these clearly defined segments, Apple can give a wide range up customers something to meet their needs and budget but also give them something to aspire to and maybe spend a little more on. without the segments, the cost of upgrades become too hard to justify and customer settle for the lower priced products.

Very few customers need the M1 Pro or Max. The M1 will server their needs and cost less and use less power. Think of the M1 as a 4-cyinder engine car. Perfectly sufficient for most people, but some want to a little more and get the 6-cylinder car, others need or want to go up to the 8-cylinder car. There are a few whose needs or wants are such that they will even spring for a 12-cylinder car in spite of the price.

Expect that Apple will continue to offer these different segments in their chips and product, even as they upgrade them from M1 to M2 and beyond.
 
I know it won't happen, but man would I love a 15". It'd be the ultimate student computer (especially with the colors!! bring on the colors!!)

13" is too cramped for my schoolwork, design, and music stuff, but I do not need the extra power of the M1 Pro / Max and can't afford the new MBPs.
 
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