Five Features to Look Forward to in the 2022 MacBook Air

[MacRumors]

In 2022, Apple is going to release an updated version of the MacBook Air with some of the biggest design changes that we've seen since 2010, when Apple introduced the 11 and 13-inch size options. In the video below, we highlight five features that you need to know about the new machine.

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• No More Wedge Design - Current MacBook Air models have a wedge design that tapers toward the front, but the new MacBook Air will look much more like the MacBook Pro with a uniform body design. It's going to deviate from the MacBook Pro in terms of ports, though, with Apple only expected to include USB-C ports.
• White Bezels - The MacBook Air is rumored to be modeled after the 24-inch iMac, with off-white bezels around the display and a matching off-white keyboard with a full row of function keys. The MacBook Pro surprised us all with a notch for the camera, and rumors suggest the MacBook Air will have the same notch, but in white.
• Multiple Colors - Continuing on with the iMac theme, the new MacBook Air is expected to be made available in several color options. The colors could be similar to the 24-inch iMac, which comes in blue, green, pink, silver, yellow, orange, and purple. Apple has a history of using bright colors for its non Pro machines, and different color options would clearly distinguish the MacBook Air from its Pro sibling.
• Mini-LED Display - Apple introduced a mini-LED display with ProMotion technology in the 2021 MacBook Pro models, and the 2022 MacBook Air could adopt the same display, though without the ProMotion. The MacBook Air display is expected to continue to measure in at around 13 inches.
• M2 Chip - Rumors suggest the MacBook Air will be equipped with an "M2" chip, which would be an upgraded version of the M1. It won't be as powerful as the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips used in the MacBook Pro, but it will offer an improvement over the M1. It's expected to continue to feature an 8-core CPU, but with faster performance and nine or 10 GPU cores, up from seven or eight in the M1.

There's one other notable rumor - the upcoming MacBook Air might not be an "Air" at all. Apple could be planning to revert to the standard "MacBook" name, which hasn't been in use since the 12-inch MacBook was continued. It's not yet clear if this is accurate, so the "Air" moniker might not stick around, but there's a chance Apple is once again going to streamline its Mac naming.

We'll know more as the MacBook Air's launch date approaches, and while a release timeline isn't nailed down as of yet, we're expecting to see it sometime in the second half of the year.

For a more in-depth overview of what's expected for the 2022 MacBook Air, we have a dedicated rumor guide. It's a good idea to keep it bookmarked if you're planning on buying one of the new machines, because we update it each time there's a new rumor.

Article Link: Five Features to Look Forward to in the 2022 MacBook Air

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Nice! I can't wait! Woo hoo! The most important feature is the double notch in 2022.

Can we expect a double-notch MacBook Air?

On a serious note. Apple: Can you please introduce matte black MacBook Air! It will hide the bezels and the notch very well.

 

[MTD's Mac]

This will be my next Mac, for sure.

I hope it will be called MacBook Air, maybe rebrand the current Air as the "MacBook" to align with iPad (regular/Air/Pro) lineup.

 

[Lloigorr]

M2 Chip - Rumors suggest the MacBook Air will be equipped with an "M2" chip, which would be an upgraded version of the M1. It won't not be as powerful as the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips used in the MacBook Pro, but it will offer an improvement over the M1. It's expected to continue to feature an 8-core CPU, but with faster performance and nine or 10 GPU cores, up from seven or eight in the M1.

Wait... what? Will it or won't it?

Edit: There was a typo in the original post, which has meanwhile been corrected.

Btw I can imagine the M2 being in the upcoming Air as it won’t have a “pro” or “max” name so we are able to distinguish the pro from the regular silicons.

 

[McKodiak]

The colors should go with a white bezel and keyboard but the silver and, if available, space gray should have a black bezel and keyboard. the white will be a major turnoff for standard users who don't want color where the MacBook Pro is out of reach from a cost perspective.

 

[McKodiak]

Wait... what? Will it or won't it?

There's currently 3 chips. M1, M1Pro and M1Max. It will be better than M1 but not as good as M1Pro and M1Max.

 

[SactoGuy18]

It will be interesting to see if the next MacBook Air will adopt the MagSafe 3 charging connector. Given that it will likely need around 67 watts initial charging rate, probably not, since that's within in the current USB-IF Power Delivery 3.0 standard for charging over USB Type C connections.

 

[ASentientBot]

From the previous rumors, I thought this could be a low-cost machine akin to the iPhone SE. Which would fit the MacBook name -- a sort of throwback to the 2010 models, which had a white plastic chassis but the same specs as the Pro.

But with mini-LED and the notch, this sounds more like the 2015 MacBook. Likely more expensive than the current Air, with a heavy focus on thinness?

In which case, the names are still backwards ?

 

[psxp]

I can see it being the new MacBook, and they keep the MacBook Air for a while longer,

 

[fwmireault]

White bezels is not a feature, it’s just an horrible mistake in my opinion

 

[BornAgainMac]

I hope it just comes in one screen size or it will be really hard to pick which one to get.

 

[QCassidy352]

1. Bad
2. Very bad
3. Bad (if M1 iMac colors are any indication)
4. Irrelevant
5. Good

I need a new Mac (2015 MBP with dying battery), but this redesign is rumored to hit allll the wrong notes.

 

[LoveTo]

I’m beginning to think that with the design changes and all, this product will be called MacBook and will be offered at around 1300 range and M1 MacBook Air will be sold too, at around 900 range.

 

[aidler]

White bezels and a white notch that you can't hide even if you wanted. That thing will go into history as the worst looking items modern Apple (post Amelio) ever sold. It looks heinous...

 

[Mendoza_559]

So when I enable dark mode those white bezels with the white notch are going to stick out like a sore thumb….great.

 

[SW3029]

How about a 15" screen? I want a big-screen Mac laptop without the Pro features/price.

 

[siddavis]

Look forward to?
The first 2 are lame and extremely lame.

 

[Not Sure ☠️]

Wow, that looks hideous.

Why is all black so hard for them to do again?

 

[Macalway]

Funny. It reads: "Since the 12" Macbook was continued"

We can dream.

 

[Apple_Robert]

How many time is MR going to report these same rumors in an article?

White bezels is not a feature, it’s an horrible mistake in my opinion

Bezel color is definitely not a feature. MR should title the article 5 rumors.... This article is nothing more than a repeat of other articles they have published on the same topic.

 

[MacLawyer]

Glad I picked up the 2020 MBA a year ago. I like the form factor.

 

[tonyr6]

White notch you can't hide using software. Pass.

 

[crazytrain]

Hmmm... 'Look forward to...'
1. Don't care
2. No, absolutely not
3. No
4. Maybe
5. Okay

 

[scuac]

There's currently 3 chips. M1, M1Pro and M1Max. It will be better than M1 but not as good as M1Pro and M1Max.

Well, that isn't confusing at all /s

 

[Caliber26]

I really, really, REALLY hope this one of those products everyone was horribly wrong about.

For Apple to take away the option of a professional-looking MacBook at the entry level category would be asinine. Surely they have to understand that there are countless people who need MacBooks for work but at the same time prefer a device that looks professional without having to jump to an over-powered $2000+ machine. I understand this is probably what Apple is going for, but it’s bull if they actually follow through with it.