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

A 15 inch air would be an instabuy for me (assuming that the markup over the 13 wasn't too eye-watering, of course). I'd love a 16 inch pro but I don't need anything like that performance and I'm definitely not paying that much for it!
 
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I'm happy about these rumors because it confirms I think I want the 14 inch Pro. Too many ports I want. The larger screen. I won't order till I see how they hold up in the real world (and what the chip differences actually have on my particular use case) but it's nice to have my dream machine actually exist finally.
 
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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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No way will the base M2 be anywhere close to the M1 Pro / Max chips. It's not something that is feasible / possible to do.

Each level of M# chip is purpose build for their respective categories.

M# for smaller, cheaper consumer devices & iPad Pro
M# Pro & Max for Pro laptops, iMac Pros
And something like an M# Ultra for the Mac Pro

Don't confuse generations of a chip for the different categories/configuration of the chip.

Expectations should be more like - M2 will be 20% faster with slightly less power draw and heat than the base M1 chip.

Also timeline wise something like 12-18 months would be realistic for M1 -> M2, M1 Pro/Max -> M2 Pro/Max. Maybe 18-24 months for expensive low volume products like Mac Pros.

It's not only A series chips that release in the time and configurations they do, it applies to similarly to all CPU and GPUs also.

If we are talking release schedules then something like:

2022 Spring - M2 MacBook Air, Mac mini, iMac
2022 Summer / Fall - M2 Pro & Max MacBook Pro, iMac Pro. M2 iPad Pro
2022 ??? - M1 Ultra Mac Pro (could very easily launch after M2 devices are released)
 
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I think it is a good evolution.

I like the square design better than the tapered design.

The fact that it has a mini-LED is good news. I guess this one won't have the 120hz that the Pro does (something similar to what happens with the iPad Pro and Air).

I think it is going to be a very attractive computer, and with the M2, powerful, with a lot of autonomy and perfect for practically everyone.
 
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that WEDGE design is revolutionary! It will someone day be one of those highly valued "old school" macs!
This new version tho looks amazing! Has me wondering if a Pro is even necessary for someone like myself! LOL
 
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Let Air stay in Air please. Not the bulky PC ultrabook .....and forget about MegSafe 3, I only need type-c ports on Air.
 
I think it is a real possibility that the current M1 Mac will get a $100 price drop or some sort of upgrade when the M2 comes out.

MBX said:
The first pic of the Air is sexy. Thin and powerful like I want it.

Too bad Apple said they probably abandoned the idea of a 15'' or 16'' MB Air. Would've been so nice with a larger screen.
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Yes. A MacBook equivalent of MacBook Pro. May be $1499 for 16" and $1299 for 14".

And may be update the old MacBook Air with M2 and continue to sell it at $999.
 
I think M2 will be released in Q4 2022.

Spring - iMac Pro, AirPods Pro, iPhone 13 (purple), iPad Air
WWDC - Mac Pro
September - iPhone 14, Apple Watch S8
October - M2 MacBook Air, M2 Mac mini
 
ksec said:
I think it is a real possibility that the current M1 Mac will get a $100 price drop or some sort of upgrade when the M2 comes out.
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My guess is 8-core CPU being the only option. Helps with scale too
 
mosh.jinton said:
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.
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If Apple refresh base MBP next year to the same chassis as present MBP 14" and put M2 8-core CPU 10-core GPU up to 16GB RAM with mini-LED an no touch bar for let's say $1499/$1599 that could be funny. Because that would be machine which would fulfil needs regarding the performance of all people who now upgraded from 2011 to 2019 MBPs. If you can stay so long with such slow laptops you clearly don't need CPU performance of M1 Pro&Max and M1/M2 is better (to much better) to what you already had. (Except for those who owned latest MBPs with high end discreet GPUs or are using highly RAM demanding apps - those people of course will utilize new Macbook Pros).

The mainstream desire for better screen, more ports and better camera would be fully satisfied with such refresh of base MBP for half or even 1/3rd of price of M1 Pro&Max with 1/3rd to 1/5th of power consumption. If so, we could see next year people downgrading their "maxed" books to "newest tech M2" or those people who realise they never use that power of the GPU, RAM or CPU of the laptop they own and that it's a waste of resources so they resell it. Maybe there will be big price drops of these used "maxed" Macbooks. And of course lot of people who are wealthy that they can purchase present Pros will just not care and will keep them anyway.

I am curious what is the strategy for Apple with base MBP.
 
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DrwMDvs said:
THIS is an idea. How about this? Come spring, they update the MacBook Air as you've said, and at the same time, update the current 13" MBP to the 14" MBP with new unibody without promotion. Both with m2.
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I can see that happening.
 
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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I’m in the same position. MacBook Pro from 2014 needs replacing but I waited for Apple to fix the keyboard, the switch to Apple Silicon and now the redesign. The Pro and Max are overkill but I’m tired of waiting. Haven’t ordered yet as I also want to upgrade my iMac from 2015 and iPad Pro from 2017.

Apple always manages to excite and frustrate at the same time.
 
I'm might be a minority, but the current M1 MacBook Air is the best notebook I have ever used/owned/seen. The only improvement I'm hoping for is [even] lower weight. The X1 nano is about 33% lighter.
 
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Rkuda said:
2022 Spring - M2 MacBook Air, Mac mini, iMac
2022 Summer / Fall - M2 Pro & Max MacBook Pro, iMac Pro. M2 iPad Pro
2022 ??? - M1 Ultra Mac Pro (could very easily launch after M2 devices are released)
Click to expand...
What makes you think spring for M2 Air? Rumours so far have pointed to late 2022.

Also seems unlikely that they'd replace the MBP Pro/Max less than a year after launch.
 
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