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It's not an Air because of it's absolute weight
Apple has the iPad and iPad Air. Not to mention the iPad Pro lineup. My iPad Air is noticeably lighter than my wife's regular iPad. The difference in the nomenclature is the weight of the device. Some marketing gimmick that the device feels lighter than Air. Yeh, right. Having multiple product lines is not unusual.

I think Apple will continue the designations. A light(er) device such as the Air will appeal to many people that are light users. Especially those that travel. Yes, a pound or two is not much, but it does get noticeable the more one travels. The regular MacBook will appeal to users that need more function, external displays or more processing power.

Personally, I want the smaller screen, 13" over a 15". Easier to fit on an airline tray, easier to carry as it is much less bulky.
 
It’s not something I predicted, but rather we’ve heard this prediction from the start.


Thinking about timelines, if Apple were to just put the same logic board as MBA M2 into this 15-inch product, it probably wouldn’t take 9 to 12 months to develop. This “MacBook Plus” is likely more than just a larger chassis.

The times seem to line up. Ross Young (display analyst who's got a very good track record) has said that the display panels are already in production, he expects the Macbook Air (or Macbook) 15" to be available in early April.

It could be that Apple hold an event this month with pre-orders starting on the same day. Then again would Apple hold an event just for a 15" Macbook Air or Macbook? maybe they rebrand it the Macbook, announce a couple of other things along side it. The Mac Pro is due a update, but that may be a WWDC announcement.
 
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Apple has the iPad and iPad Air. Not to mention the iPad Pro lineup. My iPad Air is noticeably lighter than my wife's regular iPad. The difference in the nomenclature is the weight of the device. Some marketing gimmick that the device feels lighter than Air. Yeh, right. Having multiple product lines is not unusual.

I think Apple will continue the designations. A light(er) device such as the Air will appeal to many people that are light users. Especially those that travel. Yes, a pound or two is not much, but it does get noticeable the more one travels. The regular MacBook will appeal to users that need more function, external displays or more processing power.

Personally, I want the smaller screen, 13" over a 15". Easier to fit on an airline tray, easier to carry as it is much less bulky.
It doesn't really make sense though. You're right - when first introduced, the Air branding was there to emphasise how thin and light the MBA was compared to other laptops at the time. Similarly, the iPad Air was noticably thinner and lighter than previous iPads. Since then the branding has become less logical: the MBA existed alongside the 12" MacBook which was smaller and lighter and likewise even today the iPad Air is only 5 g lighter than the iPad Pro (~1% difference)...

It would make so much sense for Apple to standardise the naming of their lineups: iPad/Macbook SE for the older shell with modern chip, iPad/MacBook for the 'standard models' and iPad/MacBook Pro for the the high end models
 
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Apparently Apple will announce a new iPhone colour next week via a press briefing. I can’t see them just announcing a new colour of the same iPhone, they could announce the 15” MacBook Air/MacBook via a press release as well as the Apple Music classical.

Now that the VR headset has been pushed back to WWDC at the earliest, they won’t need to hold an event just for a 15” MacBook Air with the M2 chip or M2 Pro chip. New colour iPhone and Apple Music Classical also isn’t event worthy.
 
Yeah, I think they'll introduce the 15" MBA in a press release IF the only difference between it and the 13" is the screen size. Which I think is likely.
I think it’s likely going to be just the screen size and maybe they give the option of the M2 Pro chip.
 
I think it’s likely going to be just the screen size and maybe they give the option of the M2 Pro chip.
I think if they have the option for the M2 Pro, then that's a lot for a press release. I think they would have to drop the current M2 MacBook Pro 13-inch and offer the M2 Pro in the MacBook Air 13-inch, otherwise the Air vs Pro labeling gets even more confusing.
 
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I think if they have the option for the M2 Pro, then that's a lot for a press release. I think they would have to drop the current M2 MacBook Pro 13-inch and offer the M2 Pro in the MacBook Air 13-inch, otherwise the Air vs Pro labeling gets even more confusing.

I think they might do that and eliminate the Touch Bar models, but rebrand it as either a bigger more powerful Air or a MacBook. There are people like myself who want a bigger screen MacBook but don’t need the power of the 16”

I could be wrong and I probably will be, I’m going off of complete guesswork mixed with a a few rumours and leaks. Personally I don’t see Apple announcing just a yellow iPhone next week via a press release. If there was going to be a Spring event, Apple would mention the new yellow colour there, much like they have in previous years.
 
None. If you want something more powerful just get the 14", the M1 Pro version is still available discounted and in the Apple certified refurbished store for around $1.5k, pretty much obsoleting the M2 Air for all but a few users who really can't carry around the additional weight.

The M2 MBA isn’t obsolete for those that want a lighter and better looking laptop than the 14” MBP, and for those that don’t need the extra power in laptop form.
 
My guess is we'll see an old 13" MBA and new MB, both with the new M3 chip. The MacBook will have the option for a M3 Pro which will be actively cooled, making the standard M3 model possibly passively cooled.

IMO Apple should also release a 13" MacBook with the option for the M3 Pro chip, similar to the old 13" MacBook Pro.
It will be a weird lineup I'm sure of it.

I for one am sold on a 15" MacBook mit the M3 Pro.
 
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