Apple Working on 15-Inch MacBook Air and 12-Inch MacBook for 2023

[4jasontv]

I like the 12"MB for the portability at work and at home. I don't need a 12" with all the bells and whistles of the MBP. I have a 2017 MB (like new) and the only thing keeping me from using it as much as my M1 MBA is the keyboard. I am not a big fan of the tactile feel. I have never had any problems with the 12" keyboard not acting as it should. It can't compete (keyboard wise) with the M1 MBA.

The MBP and MBA appear to be nearly identical in terms of performance. If you remove the Touch Bar, improve the screen, and reduce the battery by a few minutes it's a new MBA. I just don't see what Apple could fit between the existing options that would justify a MB.

 

[zlt1228]

this naming scheme is so dumb. just make a MacBook and a MacBook Pro and offer different levels of each...

Apple actually tried this a few years ago. I wonder what made them change that.

 

[smulji]

The 12” MacBook had a following, but it was hindered by the slow Core M processor and premium price. The M2 or M3 won’t have the performance issue.

The 12" MB had a following like small screen iPhones had a following. And we know the future of the latter.

 

[4jasontv]

Apple actually tried this a few years ago. I wonder what made them change that.

I think they did such a good job with the Air that people look for it by name. I could see the average person perceiving the MacBook as cheap, and the Air and Pro as premium.

 

[sw1tcher]

Air 15" / 8 GB RAM / 256 GB SSD - 1.999 USD in USA / 4.999 EUR in Europe / 3 houses, 2 cars and one kidney in Brazil

Does the decimal point have a different meaning where you're at?

In the U.S., 1.999 USD reads as one dollar and 99.9 cents

 

[4jasontv]

The 12" MB had a following like small screen iPhones had a following. And we know the future of the latter.

I can only hope Apple kills off the Max and makes a 7-inch iPad nano.

 

[turbineseaplane]

15 MBA is a unicorn.

Will eat MBP 16 sales......

That's fine - Apple doesn't care as long as you are buying something and staying in the eco system of services and continuing as an ongoing long term customer.

 

[4jasontv]

Does the decimal point have a different meaning where you're at?

In the U.S., 1.999 USD reads as one dollar and 99.9 cents

Many countries use . instead of ,
It can seem a little strange, but it's not as jarring as when they say $1.999 + $9.111 is basic maths.

 

[mark_gurman]

And they used the older style of MacBook Air from 2020... Hey its Gurman, the man who has no connections any more, I don't listen to his BS...

Find a new slant - nobody else agrees with you.

 

[bigboy29]

Air 15" / 8 GB RAM / 256 GB SSD - 1.999 USD in USA / 4.999 EUR in Europe / 3 houses, 2 cars and one kidney in Brazil

I agree with you; I am a Mac switcher for fun (not out of need or for professional reasons) but recent Apple pricing makes me wonder if I'll ever be able to afford a new Apple machine. Actually, it's not that I can't afford it, it is that I'd refuse to pay $1.9K for a 8GB / 256GB machine.

I can always buy an used machine, though, like the 2020 MBP I am on now.

 

[Apple_Robert]

The 12" MB had a following like small screen iPhones had a following. And we know the future of the latter.

I think the 12" would sell very well provided Apple doesn't put a premium price tag on it.

If this news turns out to be true, I will give Mark $100. I hope I have to pay.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

I've wanted a 12" MacBook ever since I got to use my friends 12" PowerBook G4.

 

[Salty Pirate]

That's fine - Apple doesn't care as long as you are buying something and staying in the eco system of services and continuing as an ongoing long term customer.

Used to think that.

Wonder why Apple has never done a 15" Air?

 

[Apple_Robert]

I've wanted a 12" MacBook ever since I got to use my friends 12" PowerBook G4.

Time to start saving for your next MB.

 

[transpo1]

12" MacBook is one of the best computers they ever built imo. Can't wait to get that form factor back! 2 pounds. You could bring it with you anywhere without a second though. Nothing has come close to that since.

Absolutely! I still have my 2017 12” and am holding onto it until they release a comparably light and thin machine. It’s the thinnest, lightest laptop they’ve ever made. Love it, and it would be even better if they released the same form factor with a better keyboard.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Used to think that.

Wonder why Apple has never done a 15" Air?

Hard to say..they've spent a lot of the last decade flailing around on the laptop lines

It's possible they didn't like the thermal/power situation with Intel chips.

Now that we have a big change there, hopefully, with how efficient ASi can be, we'll finally see some interesting new takes on form factor and product choices/tradeoffs

 

[DarkHelmet]

Always nice to have more product choices, at least in theory. It is getting rather cluttered, however. And does it really make sense to have 37 varieties of very similar laptops before they actually release an AS Mac Pro? Or replace the Intel Mac Mini? And when it takes three months to get a Mac Studio?

It seems to me that the Mac line up could consist of six machines:

13" laptop -- light and compact
16" laptop (Pro, if you like) -- powerful, big screen, lots of ports
Mini -- M1 or M1 Pro, a few ports
Studio -- Max or Ultra, lots of ports
Mac Pro -- high end everything, user expandable
iMac -- all in one, adequate ports, basically a Mini built into a nice 5k screen. (I'd prefer it to be 27" rather than 24" but whatever.)

While on the subject I'll admit that I'm utterly baffled by the current lineup of iPads. It seems like there should be two versions -- a little one and a big one. Or possibly three, the third being a big one with lots and lots of power and super nice cameras.

Good thing I'm not running the company, I guess.

Oh, yes; one last thing . . . no notches. None. Not ever again.

 

[xraydoc]

12" M2 Retina MacBook -- yes, please. Brings me back to the old PowerBook Duo days.

 

[planteater]

Why would they create a 12” MacBook, when they have plans (reportedly) to offer an 11”, 12” and 14.1” iPP?

They are two different markets.

 

[turbineseaplane]

And does it really make sense to have 37 varieties of very similar laptops before they actually release an AS Mac Pro? Or replace the Intel Mac Mini? And when it takes three months to get a Mac Studio?

Based on what actually sells the most (consumer level laptops), as strange as it sounds, it does actually make sense.

The MP, MS and MM are all niche in comparison to the laptops

 

[EugW]

I believe in the 14-inch iPad. I don't believe in the 12-inch MacBook. Laptops with multiple windows and mouse cursor need a minimum screen real estate nowadays. Even in the PC world, that's not a screen size that's memorable.

I used to have the 11.6-inch MBA, that I loved. That was a different era, with much weaker mobile OSs than we have today. I can no longer see myself using macOS on such a small display.

To be honest I was never a big fan of the 11.6" MacBook Air. It had a much worse screen that was not only non-Retina, but which also had poor viewing angles. The screen fonts were also small, which was especially problematic because of the non-Retina screen. On the flip side, it had a decent keyboard.

The 12" MacBook had a vastly superior screen, Retina with excellent viewing angles. Unfortunately the initial keyboard sucked, and the 2017 keyboard was merely tolerable at best.

 

[planteater]

I think Apple has lost the original meaning of the Air.

Yep. If anything the 12 inch should be the air and 15 just MacBook.

 

[EugW]

Yep. If anything the 12 inch should be the air and 15 just MacBook.

Call them all MacBook Airs or call them all MacBooks.

 

[iDento]

With rumours like this, I’ll hang onto my 2016 12” RMB a little longer. So keen to see a modern machine this light and small again - it’s just perfect for my needs.

I have the same laptop currently, I think I will get an iMac now and upgrade my 2018 iPad Pro to a MacBook 12’ next year. That would be a great combo.

 

[polaris20]

The ability to run those 2 applications are not the only reason why a device is or is not "Pro".

There are different types of professionals. (But yes, those apps would be nice.)

Hey guys! Checked my post again. Nowhere does it say those two apps define whether the iPad Pro is "Pro". Point is, when Apple themselves don't even include their own pro apps, it's sad.