Bloomberg: Apple Working on 'Thinner and Lighter' High-End MacBook Air With MagSafe, Could Launch in Second Half of 2021

[ChromeAce]

The next-generation MacBookAir will have no ports on it at all to make the design super-slim. The MagSafe connection will be on the bottom of the unit and not have any visible protrusion except for an indented white circle identical in size to the wireless charger currently used on iPhones, making the adapter flush with the unit when attached. Third-party docking station solutions will also attach here. The power brick will house 2 Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, an ethernet jack, and an SD card slot.

 

[Falhófnir]

Screen Size doesn't make sense.

If MacBook Pro are moving to 14", 16", then it make more sense to have MacBook Air or Simply MacBook at 12" and 14".

If you have MacBook Air with 13" and a 15", you then have a whole line up of different screen size. Which is very unApple.

And then you could have the MacBook SE at 11", the same screen size of old MacBook Air.

MacBook Pro 14 - 16"
Macbook 12 - 14"
Macbook SE 11"


Basically mimicking the iPhone Lineup.

An issue with bringing back a 12" model is the footprint can't go smaller because of the need to fit a full size keyboard, but that leaves a huge bezel (of wasted space) around the display. By the time you scale the display up to fill the top panel, you're almost at 13" anyway. So maybe not 13.3" but a 12.8-13.0" panel in something very like the MacBook's chassis is closer to the ideal. Then offering a 13" and 14.1" is probably too close to give each a proper, differentiated use case, so you come back round to the 13 and 15 inch options.

 

[chucker23n1]

Not sure what makes this the "high-end" Air.

As long as they use this to differentiate from the Pro (which I would argue is currently too similar), this seems fine. I have questions about the camera, though.

 

[Bazooka-joe]

What do you want MagSafe charging for? Just get a MagSafe USB-C cable?

I was referencing the laptop being charged via a MagSafe adapter like they used to

 

[jlc1978]

If it comes with reduced bezels, mini-led and MagSafe charging then that’s the macbook that I shall pull the trigger on

I wonder if they'll wait to go to mini LED until they bring that to the Pros as well.

I honestly wonder what percentage of time the average Mac is used on a desk or table - 90%?

I just don't get the thinner and lighter thing at this stage. Diminishing returns and all that...

Travel. Easier to drop into a briefcase; less weight to lug around all day.

Now that I think about it, this M1 has been acting sluggish lately. If this M1 can’t handle watching cat videos on YouTube, what good is it?

MacRumors has already received complaints about the cat comment and cat owners have vowed to boycott MacRumors.

Good riddance. Let's keep MR dog friendly.

What do you want MagSafe charging for? Just get a MagSafe USB-C cable?

So we can carry around yet another proprietary power brick to make up for the weight savings from a lighter, thinner Air.

 

[Ursadorable]

I can finally replace my 2013 MBP. I refused to buy a new one until MagSafe made a return.

 

[Harmonious Zen]

The air is 2.8lbs (1.29kg). Yet people think that is heavy? If something around 3lbs is to heavy you may other issues to worry about.

It's not that it's too heavy, it's that technology has the ability to make something super thin and light. Ideally we could have a MacBook Air that's as thin as an iPad Pro, similar footprint, and about the same weight. Makes it much easier to use in different places.

 

[Ursadorable]

This is disgusting. I just bought an M1 and now Apple is going to make me upgrade again in less than a year? Apple should have sent out an email letting prospective buyers know ahead of time.

And this is why I always say, I'll never buy a first gen product.. because the 2nd gen is always better.

No company on the planet is going to say, "Whoa, before you buy my brand new product, there's going to be a better version in 6 months or a year". That's just silly.

 

[BenLeong]

A laptop that thin, might as well call it

The Last Air Bender

 

[darngooddesign]

And this is why I always say, I'll never buy a first gen product.. because the 2nd gen is always better.

No company on the planet is going to say, "Whoa, before you buy my brand new product, there's going to be a better version in 6 months or a year". That's just silly.

If you read his post before commenting, you would realize it was made in jest.

 

[BeefCake 15]

The air is 2.8lbs (1.29kg). Yet people think that is heavy? If something around 3lbs is to heavy you may other issues to worry about.

They don't lift bro!

 

[oosamon]

Something to pry me away from my 2017 MB...? Intriguing.

 

[satchmo]

These renderings are hilarious. The bezels will never be that thin on any MacBook.

But I guess it did the trick to get me to comment and add a page view.

 

[August West]

Take my money already. When my 2009 MBP died in 2017 I picked up a base MBA which I knew was pretty much obsolete even when I bought but needed something immediately and cheap. It is an OK machine but I'll jump on this new MBA as soon as it is available.

 

[hybrid_x]

Thinner and lighter is fine for the Air, as long as they bring back a full set of ports on the Pro.

A Pro machine should include the ports needed for Pro work, without having to carry a bag full of dongles. It should include HDMI, USB-A, and Ethernet.

A Pro machine should be a tool, not a fashion statement.

That's a role filled by the Air.

 

[MacMediaNet]

Please Apple, make it 12-inch.

 

[drzen]

These (moving) target dates have become utterly meaningless by now.

 

[kerr]

Please Apple, make it 12-inch.

I’d say more of us want a 14” or 15” Air

 

[DNichter]

This is a product that interests me. I have been full iPad OS but I have been wanting to try out some of the new M1 Macs, but can't get on board with the old school design. This or a redesigned 12 inch MacBook would be perfect for me. I have been pleasantly surprised with Big Sur.

 

[JPSaltzman]

Thinner? Lighter?

Oh, no, it's the return of the Butterfly Keyboard!

 

[balticgreen]

The air is 2.8lbs (1.29kg). Yet people think that is heavy? If something around 3lbs is to heavy you may other issues to worry about.

It's not that it's heavy compared to other objects; it's that it's heavy compared to other ultraportable laptops, including Apple's own discontinued 12-inch Retina Macbook. I replaced my 12-inch with an M1 Air and the M1 Air IS noticeably heavier in comparison on a day to day basis of carrying it. At 2.8 pounds vs 2.0 pounds, the Air is almost one and a half times the weight of the older computer that was released six years ago.

I would have just kept the 12-inch Macbook except for that dreadful keyboard.

When it comes to MagSafe instead of USB-C for charing. I don’t see any problems with this as long as the notebooks will continue to feature USB Type-C ports, which they obviously will and those ports are still being capable of providing power to the system. And hopefully the power adapter itself will stay the same with a USB-C connector on the adapter making the only difference between using USB-C for charging and using MagSafe will be the cable you connect into the adapter.

Meaning the machines themselves stay universal, the adapter itself stays universal it’s just up to the user to decide if they are going to use the USB-C to MagSafe or the USB-C to USB-C cable for charging.

Agree 100%. I loved Magsafe back in the day and I'm not upset about it making a return, but I truly hope that the laptops will still at least be ABLE to charge over USB-C even if that's not the cable that comes in the box. Now that I'm used to the USB-C, it's really nice to have one charger for multiple devices and be able to use third party chargers, cables, and power banks.

 

[Quadra610]

I fear this may require a Unified Battery that's integrated into the motherboard, thus eliminating the most valuable feature of the current design.

--submitted from a 2012 Macbook Air...because it has a replaceable battery

 

[Salty Pirate]

really want the 15 Air

 

[sirozha]

The next-generation MacBookAir will have no ports on it at all to make the design super-slim. The MagSafe connection will be on the bottom of the unit and not have any visible protrusion except for an indented white circle identical in size to the wireless charger currently used on iPhones, making the adapter flush with the unit when attached. Third-party docking station solutions will also attach here. The power brick will house 2 Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, an ethernet jack, and an SD card slot.

Nothing like crawling under the desk to insert an SD card.

 

[michaelsviews]

really want the 15 Air

That would be great.

Not seeing the 2017's in the refurbished section lately. The new one's are great IMO. As soon as you get one of anything at Apple there's always the chance of something "BETTER" coming along.