Apple's Confusing Mac Lineup: MacBook Air vs. MacBook

[borntrouble]

I'm hoping they do away with the 12" MacBook and reintroduce an 11" MacBook Air with the new features for $100 less.

I would highly appreciate a 11'' Macbook Air as well, but I think this is not going to happen. Everything Apple cares about these days are sales numbers, and those could be hurt because introducing such a computer for a reasonable price would kill any reason for consumers to buy an iPad.

 

[mkoesel]

The tapered design is a big part of what makes it a MacBook Air.

But the original point of the MacBook Air was to be lightest notebook available, and the tapered design was a means to that end. Years have gone by, the Air has not held the "lightest laptop" role for a long time, and the new one does nothing do rectify that. It weighs almost as much as a 13", non-tapered MacBook Pro, underscoring the fact that in 2018, you do not need a tapered design to achieve what is a moderately portable 13" notebook. Although the nTB Pro does not quite hit the just-under-three-pound weight of the new Air, with appropriate weight-targeted optimization to its form factor and internals, it most surely could. And even if it did not hit exactly 2.75 lbs, it could come close enough for the difference to be a wash.

Furthermore, the MacBook also features a tapered design and if the intent of the air was to be "light" - appreciably lighter than a nTB Pro, let's say - then surely a slightly larger MacBook to accommodate a 13" screen would be the ticket. Such a machine would almost certainly not weigh the additional 3/4 pound compared to the 12" model that the new Air does. Perhaps part of the package would be a bump down to two USB-C (USB 3.1) ports instead of two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, or perhaps not. And likely it would mean a bump down to 4.5W (5W now with the latest generation, not yet used in the MacBook) processors. At any rate, though, even in that case, then the nTB Pro would still be there for those who absolutely need TB3 and more processing power, while the MacBook would be there for those who don't need that type of functionality. The win would be a truly fan-less, truly lightweight 13" laptop, and a product that is much more in keeping with the ethos of the original Air, and much more suited to carry on its legacy.

 

[manu chao]

The new MBA is lighter than the 13'' MBP (2.75 pound vs 3.02)
The 12'' made much more sense when there wasn't a MBA with retina display, I'm not saying it is useless but it now serves only a small niche market.

Except of course that there was something very close to a retina Air since 2016: the 13" MBP escape. Same processor class as the Air, same display size, almost exactly the same weight (1.35 kg vs 1.37 kg), while not wedge-shaped, it was actually thinner (1.49 cm vs 1.7 cm) at its thickest point than the MBA. If weight is the main criteria for portability, the gap has narrowed between the two lightest retina Mac laptops. It was 920 g vs 1370 g and now is 920 g vs 1250 g. The gap shrank from 450 g to 330 g. I don't think that alone invalidates the weight difference as a key attribute of the MB.

And only the 128 GB version of the new MBA is cheaper than the MB. At 256 GB the MB costs $1299 vs $1399 for the MBA. At 512 GB, they both cost the same at $1599, though that comes with a (small) processor upgrade in the MB. RAM upgrades cost the same on both models.

Of course, if you thought the main raison-d'être of the MB was to provide a cheaper retina laptop than the MBP offered, then the new MBA offers that for those happy with 128 GB of storage or those wanting more performance than the MB offers (if you pick the highest CPU option for the MB, it is more expensive than the new MBA at the same SSD sizes)>

I'd love to see an ARM based MB fast as the new iPad pro but with macOS. I could consider a machine like this, although the display is quite small for me, but not with today's performance.

And not updating the MB this year might indicate that Apple expects something else to take the place of the ultra-portable Mac laptop soonish, which could be an ARM MB.

 

[LordVic]

So, the MacBook Air, intended originally to be the thin and light, is now the midrange, the MacBook, is the thin and light (though no additional name to imply that). Pricing they're reversed.

then to add confusion to the mix, there's the 13" MacBook Pro, which is the same price as the MacBook....


oy Gavult. They need a cleanup. and some sensible price points.

MacBook Air (Current MacBook) at 899
MacBook (Currently Air) at 1099
MacBook Pro at 1399

that would be the simplest and most common sense lineup strategy at price points reflective of the hardware.

 

[KI45]

The MacBook still is a great option because there is no fan, like i said in my previous post the issue is that it should have an extra port, 720P Camera, new upgraded dual core processors, 13inch screen [12 is till good though], and preferably at a better price point for the stock option.

I thought when they released the MacBook that they would improve upon it, lower the price of the base model and make that their main line aside from the Pro. Seems they went back to upgrading the Air and keeping all the options there. Maybe it helps their cost in the supply chain and profit margins. Also it may be a marketing move since people know the Air brand.

EDIT

From having used an Air since 2012, i would recommend people to actually go for the MacBook because of the no fan, its such an underrated feature in a laptop because the Air fans just go off and are loud from just browsing the web. Websites that have an auto play video or some sites like IGN or Marketwatch for Ex make the fans go crazy for no reason.

 

[Detnator]

The ARM MacBook with dual boot macOS and iOS. No touch screen active in macOS and touchscreen active in iOS. Best of both worlds!

Hey Apple I want my royalty check if this ever comes to fruition!!!

Not dual boot. Live switching.
[doublepost=1541521245][/doublepost]

So, the MacBook Air, intended originally to be the thin and light, is now the midrange, the MacBook, is the thin and light (though no additional name to imply that). Pricing they're reversed.

then to add confusion to the mix, there's the 13" MacBook Pro, which is the same price as the MacBook....


oy Gavult. They need a cleanup. and some sensible price points.

MacBook Air (Current MacBook) at 899
MacBook (Currently Air) at 1099
MacBook Pro at 1399

that would be the simplest and most common sense lineup strategy at price points reflective of the hardware.

Except the thin ultraportable form factor has always cost a premium. The MacBook Air (currently MacBook) in your above grouping would never be that cheap. Matching the standard MacBook (currently MacBook Air) price spec for spec (except screen size) would be reasonable.

 

[cocoua]

Apple at its October event unveiled a new 2018 MacBook Air that's been entirely overhauled with a Retina display, Thunderbolt 3, a slimmed down design, a faster processor, and other hardware upgrades.

The new $1,199 machine is a great addition to the MacBook Pro, but there's just one problem - Apple already had a notebook with all of these features. The 2018 MacBook Air is very similar to the 12-inch MacBook, which did not receive a 2018 update.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.​

The 2018 MacBook Air, which Apple is selling for $1,199, is better in almost every way than the 12-inch MacBook, which is still priced at $1,299. It has a larger Retina display, a faster Amber Lake processor, upgraded Intel UHD Graphics 617, two Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports, up to 1.5TB of storage, Touch ID and T2 chip, better battery life, and it costs $100 less (though you're getting 128GB storage instead of 256GB with the base model).

At this point in time, with no update, all the MacBook has going for it is a slimmer body and a lighter weight, but even then, the difference is minute given the revamped design of the MacBook Air.

The 2018 MacBook Air measures in at 0.16 to 0.61 inches thick, compared to the MacBook, which comes in at 0.14 to 0.52 inches. It also weighs 2.75 pounds instead of the MacBook's 2 pounds, but those are really the only differentiating factors.

Right now, there is absolutely no good reason to purchase a MacBook over a MacBook Air, and anyone considering a new Apple notebook that's aiming for portability and good battery life should choose the MacBook Air.

You can get close to MacBook Air performance with the upgraded MacBook with a 1.4GHz Core M processor, but the MacBook Air is still going to beat it because it's using eighth-generation processors instead of seventh-generation and it costs $1,549 to upgrade to that higher-powered processor.

If and when Apple upgrades the MacBook with next-generation Intel chips, it's still going to be almost on par with the MacBook Air if there are no other changes to form factor or specifications, so it's a mystery why the MacBook is still in Apple's lineup and why Apple has opted to have two machines that are so similar.

Prior to the October update, Apple hadn't made significant changes to the MacBook Air since 2015, and it was believed that the machine, which was priced at $999, was sticking around as a low-cost option until component prices for the MacBook came down. With the launch of the new version, that's clearly no longer Apple's plan, and the future of the MacBook and MacBook Air is murkier than ever.

As for the MacBook Air vs. the MacBook Pro, things are a bit clearer. The MacBook Air is still the lower-cost lower-performance option that is ideal for lighter workloads that don't require high-powered software.

All MacBook Pro models, including the 2017 non-Touch Bar models, offer better performance than the MacBook Air's 7W Amber Lake processor, but with the base MacBook Air vs. the base non-Touch Bar MacBook Pro priced at $1,299, there's not a huge difference. When deciding between these two machines, it's going to come down to whether you prefer a smaller form factor and Touch ID or slightly better performance.

What do you think Apple is planning for the MacBook in the future? Let us know in the comments.

Article Link: Apple's Confusing Mac Lineup: MacBook Air vs. MacBook

Its a marketing thing

Mb12 came up too early for the specs to be in Air family at that price, but time come over and those features now are a standard, only that they cant deleted the AIR name as is the most popular apple laptop ever.

So mb12 and mba2018 are almost same family, as they are what mba11 and mba13 were in past, either in physical specs or internals.

 

[Elmu2018]

Apple at its October event unveiled a new 2018 MacBook Air that's been entirely overhauled with a Retina display, Thunderbolt 3, a slimmed down design, a faster processor, and other hardware upgrades.

The new $1,199 machine is a great addition to the MacBook Pro, but there's just one problem - Apple already had a notebook with all of these features. The 2018 MacBook Air is very similar to the 12-inch MacBook, which did not receive a 2018 update.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.​

The 2018 MacBook Air, which Apple is selling for $1,199, is better in almost every way than the 12-inch MacBook, which is still priced at $1,299. It has a larger Retina display, a faster Amber Lake processor, upgraded Intel UHD Graphics 617, two Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports, up to 1.5TB of storage, Touch ID and T2 chip, better battery life, and it costs $100 less (though you're getting 128GB storage instead of 256GB with the base model).

At this point in time, with no update, all the MacBook has going for it is a slimmer body and a lighter weight, but even then, the difference is minute given the revamped design of the MacBook Air.

The 2018 MacBook Air measures in at 0.16 to 0.61 inches thick, compared to the MacBook, which comes in at 0.14 to 0.52 inches. It also weighs 2.75 pounds instead of the MacBook's 2 pounds, but those are really the only differentiating factors.

Right now, there is absolutely no good reason to purchase a MacBook over a MacBook Air, and anyone considering a new Apple notebook that's aiming for portability and good battery life should choose the MacBook Air.

You can get close to MacBook Air performance with the upgraded MacBook with a 1.4GHz Core M processor, but the MacBook Air is still going to beat it because it's using eighth-generation processors instead of seventh-generation and it costs $1,549 to upgrade to that higher-powered processor.

If and when Apple upgrades the MacBook with next-generation Intel chips, it's still going to be almost on par with the MacBook Air if there are no other changes to form factor or specifications, so it's a mystery why the MacBook is still in Apple's lineup and why Apple has opted to have two machines that are so similar.

Prior to the October update, Apple hadn't made significant changes to the MacBook Air since 2015, and it was believed that the machine, which was priced at $999, was sticking around as a low-cost option until component prices for the MacBook came down. With the launch of the new version, that's clearly no longer Apple's plan, and the future of the MacBook and MacBook Air is murkier than ever.

As for the MacBook Air vs. the MacBook Pro, things are a bit clearer. The MacBook Air is still the lower-cost lower-performance option that is ideal for lighter workloads that don't require high-powered software.

All MacBook Pro models, including the 2017 non-Touch Bar models, offer better performance than the MacBook Air's 7W Amber Lake processor, but with the base MacBook Air vs. the base non-Touch Bar MacBook Pro priced at $1,299, there's not a huge difference. When deciding between these two machines, it's going to come down to whether you prefer a smaller form factor and Touch ID or slightly better performance.

What do you think Apple is planning for the MacBook in the future? Let us know in the comments.

Article Link: Apple's Confusing Mac Lineup: MacBook Air vs. MacBook

For me personally larger SSD is more important than 1 insh diagonal increase in the screen or slightly faster processor. Therefore, MacBook 2017 with 512GB is much appreciated than MacBook Air 2018 (256GB). You may upgrade the Air to 512 as well but it will be somehow more expensive (looking for the offers announced from time to time on MacBook 2017).

 

[cocoua]

Not sure why they added the air, the MacBook is just fine.

A macbook 13 would be a dream, 12” still too small for me and I guess, mist people who needs a computer, I mean, iPad Pro looks much better for using a 12” screen (no media production, office suite works great, browswer experience and mail are better...)
[doublepost=1541526458][/doublepost]Wo

MacBook with ARM

I don’t think there will be any x86 emulation, if people want Windows that badly on the MacBook, Microsoft can update/bring back Windows RT to support MacBook ARM. (But why do you want Windows on your Mac?)

Overall, MS Office should be able to compile for this, and if you want Windows, buy a thin cheap PC notebook.

windows will be ARM in 4 years, or they will be much much slower than macs

ARM career is a rocket!

 

[baryon]

The MacBook simply should never have existed. It's overpriced, underpowered, unrepairable, and only has ONE USB-C port – meaning you can't transfer files from one hard drive to another, or connect anything if it's charging – it's everything that Apple stands for nowadays.

I don't even know who the MacBook is even targeted at. If you don't want a computer, get an iPad. If you want a computer, get something that has more than zero usb ports. It's the worst of all worlds. Not only are you paying more, but you're also getting less. Apple.

 

[cocoua]

The MacBook simply should never have existed. It's overpriced, underpowered, unrepairable, and only has ONE USB-C port – meaning you can't transfer files from one hard drive to another, or connect *anything* if it's charging – it's everything that Apple stands for nowadays.

the macbook has one dongle port (AKA USB-C), that's enough to connect plenty of dongles and plenty of peripelas

 

[lec0rsaire]

Not dual boot. Live switching.

Yes yes yes! Even better!

To be honest, iOS development is thriving and there are many many iPad apps that could translate well to a desktop keeping the same price point of course.

Obviously x64 macOS users wouldn’t be the target market for these, but they would certainly sell well to mainstream customers.

 

[Neuron1]

The MacBook weighs 25% less and is only 65% the volume of the MacBook Air Retina.

Some people pay a premium for an ultraportable.

Yes, I've used both and love the 12". 3/4 lb difference is significant. I'm hoping they upgrade the 12"

 

[cocoua]

Yes yes yes! Even better!

To be honest, iOS development is thriving and there are many many iPad apps that could translate well to a desktop keeping the same price point of course.

Obviously x64 macOS users wouldn’t be the target market for these, but they would certainly sell well to mainstream customers.

x86 macOS users? at this rate, 2019 iPad would outperform any Mac. I would like to be a ARM macOS user

 

[lec0rsaire]

x86 macOS users? at this rate, 2019 iPad would outperform any Mac. I would like to be a ARM macOS user

What about VMs? There will also be a lot of software that would take a lot of time before it would have an ARM version.

 

[iPodClassic1]

And yet the 12-inch MacBook is still more enticing to me than the Air because it’s smaller, lighter, fanless, and the base comes with 256GB.

This. So much this. No heating, no noisy fan. And I can do my work just fine. People think because a Macbook doesn't fit their needs, then it's an awful bad macbook.

I've worked for two years everyday with my apple 12 and it has done its job more than great. Only froze once, due to a Wifi issue. ONCE. No weird errors or GPU issues. Love it.

 

[cocoua]

What about VMs? There will also be a lot of software that would take a lot of time before it would have an ARM version.

Yes, it seems that VR wouldnt work as this last deacade, but ey, If ARM surpases X86, windows and linux would go there too. Is the only option for them.

Just look at the numbers! apple is making ARM so powerfull... last year I couldnt believe, but now... It seems there is no option but going there

Soft would take time, I cant believe this, another transition... but I guess there is no option. What are thinking in intel and apple about future? I would ask also what is microsoft thinking for the future but after having and working with a surface pro 2 and 4... I guess MS never thinks in nothing..

 

[JustCap]

This. So much this. No heating, no noisy fan. And I can do my work just fine. People think because a Macbook doesn't fit their needs, then it's an awful bad macbook.

I've worked for two years everyday with my apple 12 and it has done its job more than great. Only froze once, due to a Wifi issue. ONCE. No weird errors or GPU issues. Love it.

Yes!

No fan people!

I had an Air and the fan was crazy loud.

That is why they are different lines, the Macbook and the Air. The Macbook is fanless, therefore airless. The Air is well, airy.

That is why the Air is not a Macbook at all. For now.

 

[macsforme]

Why does the no Touch Bar models even exist for the MacBook Pro. Apple are just making extra work and using more resources uneccesarily.

Because some users, specifically software developers, need or at least prefer a physical escape key to maximize their productivity. Those who have ever used the vi editor know exactly what I mean.

 

[AdonisSMU]

Just shows what happens when a finance guy is making tech decisions.

Good thing there isnt a finance guy making tech decisions.

 

[sdf]

One is smaller, lighter, performs less well and is more expensive.

It's the classic size and cost compromises that have been in the industry since (probably) the world's first half dozen computers. Nothing confusing about it at all.

 

[Tech198]

The desktop lineup is even more confused, the Mac mini is stronger than the iMac and goes blow for blow with the Mac Pro lol

Ya, but we never had issues with any of this until the new Macbook Air came along either.

Why can there be only two choices ? any more than that, and we go into overload. It's Apple's ''simplicity' that drive us there to begin with with claiming "we don't want to give users heaps of choices" like choosing Android phones.

Well, they got their wish...

 

[lowkey]

As a MacBook owner since 2015 I can tell you it’s for people who want ultra portability in their laptop.

One port isn’t a problem for the way I use it. I use WiFi for a connection to my server. The machine is very snappy and great for general computing tasks. Even Indesign and photoshop run well.

It’s so light I often have to double check my bag to see if it’s in there!!

Sounds like you have never owned one and therefore have very little experience backing up your claims.

The MacBook simply should never have existed. It's overpriced, underpowered, unrepairable, and only has ONE USB-C port – meaning you can't transfer files from one hard drive to another, or connect anything if it's charging – it's everything that Apple stands for nowadays.

I don't even know who the MacBook is even targeted at. If you don't want a computer, get an iPad. If you want a computer, get something that has more than zero usb ports. It's the worst of all worlds. Not only are you paying more, but you're also getting less. Apple.

[doublepost=1541563712][/doublepost]Yeah like changing the name of the MacBook to MacBook Air and then changing the name of the MacBook Air to MacBook isn’t going to cause confusion

I went and picked up an iPP in store today.

On one table they had the laptop range laid out next to each other.

12” MacBook
13” MacBook Air
13” MacBook Pro
15” MacBook Pro

Smallest to biggest.
Lightest to heaviest.
Cheapest to most expensive.

If you’re confused by something as simple as that, then you’ve got some problems

So, the MacBook Air, intended originally to be the thin and light, is now the midrange, the MacBook, is the thin and light (though no additional name to imply that). Pricing they're reversed.

then to add confusion to the mix, there's the 13" MacBook Pro, which is the same price as the MacBook....


oy Gavult. They need a cleanup. and some sensible price points.

MacBook Air (Current MacBook) at 899
MacBook (Currently Air) at 1099
MacBook Pro at 1399

that would be the simplest and most common sense lineup strategy at price points reflective of the hardware.

 

[EEzycade]

Too bad Apple didn't release a new low-cost MacBook (Air).
Lots of educational customers do not prefer iPad, but the new MBA is getting too expensive.

My thougths exactly

 

[SuperMatt]

I would highly appreciate a 11'' Macbook Air as well, but I think this is not going to happen. Everything Apple cares about these days are sales numbers, and those could be hurt because introducing such a computer for a reasonable price would kill any reason for consumers to buy an iPad.

The 12" Macbook is actually slightly smaller than the 11" Macbook Air. I worked with a couple people that loved their 11" MBA's... I suggested they get the 12" Macbook when it was time to upgrade... they were very happy. Lighter, thinner, faster, and a 1-inch larger retina display in basically the same-sized package. For these users, the ports were not an issue. However, they did miss Magsafe.