Gurman: Apple to Announce 15-Inch MacBook Air at WWDC

[Realityck]

Everyone is assuming the "cheaper" part. I haven't seen one rumor about new MBair pricing. If it really threatens MBpro territory on desirable features/power, I expect MBpro pricing (shock in other words). And then I would expect the next MBpros to also shock with much higher pricing to resurrect the relative "bargain" of Air when compared to them.

There is a another tidbit that people didn’t believe when first reported was that contrary to popular belief the 13“ M2 MBA is not the #1 seller, the 14”/16” MBPs sold like 52% of laptops. It’s the comparable feature sets that affect what people buy. I am just recalling one persons post in relation to overall sales lately.

 

[compwiz1202]

Bet they are not available until Aug/September.

Always makes us wait.

I honestly don't care waiting for an official date within reason. It's all these rumors that are annoying. Mar/Apr and now June, and who's to say how many more times they'll change it. Just officially announce it with an official date I can actually count down to.

 

[DarthDon]

2 USB-C and HDMI please...

 

[ric22]

If they do release it with an M2 chip it won't be keynote worthy- it'll just come in the barrage of press releases in the days leading up to the event, with all the other crap they don't care about, like Apple TV, HomePods, charging adapters, etc...

The pricing will probably be similar to a 14" MacBook Pro, it'll never receive an M3 chip in the future, and Apple can later discontinue it and gloat how they were right all along how no one ever wanted a MacBook Air with a 15" screen

 

[Falhófnir]

There is a another tidbit that people didn’t believe when first reported was that contrary to popular belief the 13“ M2 MBA is not the #1 seller, the 14”/16” MBPs sold like 52% of laptops. It’s the comparable feature sets that affect what people buy. I am just recalling one persons post in relation to overall sales lately.

That was including the 13" Pro (i.e. 13, 14 and 16 together were 54% of Laptop sales IIRC). Apple have said at least twice the MBA is the best selling model, and the 13" Pro takes the #2 spot. If the above is true, it means the M1 and M2 Air share 46% of MacBook sales, it would be interesting to know what %age of sales the M1 is still commanding, but Apple don't break it down further.

 

[ric22]

2 USB-C and HDMI please...

Unlikely. Ports, RAM, storage (speed and size), webcam and screen will all be appropriately gimped to point us towards the similarly priced Pros...

 

[Camarillo Brillo]

with this and the headset that means there wont be much time for software updates, I kinda dont like hardware launchers at WWDC I want 2 hours of software updates

I used to be like that, but with the decline in the quality of Apple software over the last few years I've come to dread it. This incessant need to bring out new bling each year while leaving tons on bugs unfixed for years just makes me depressed.

I can’t wait for quarterly OS updates so mac os practically never becomes stable.

As it is right now, I don’t feel comfortable updating until a whole new OS comes out. Im still on monterey. Will consider ventura when mac os skid row comes out this year

 

[PBG4 Dude]

I will add that Apple has evolved over time from one product category (laptops) into two product categories (MBA and MBP). So, expect that the product categories will evolve and overlap. MBA category will get a "Pro" version at some point. MBP category will likely get a new name.

Apple had iBook / PowerBook differentiators years before the intel switch.

iBooks only had screen mirroring, not extending like the PowerBooks, came with fewer ports, etc. there was even a 14” iBook released with the same everything (including screen resolution) as the 12” iBook I think this is where Apple will take inspiration if they decide to do a 15” MBA.

 

[ric22]

I

That was including the 13" Pro (i.e. 13, 14 and 16 together were 54% of Laptop sales IIRC). Apple have said at least twice the MBA is the best selling model, and the 13" Pro takes the #2 spot. If the above is true, it means the M1 and M2 Air share 46% of MacBook sales, it would be interesting to know what %age of sales the M1 is still commanding, but Apple don't break it down further.

I wonder how much the notch, non-tapered design and huge price jump deterred people from buying the M2 variant?

 

[Aston441]

In “computing” in the past year we have seen the rise of generative text (ChatGTP), generative images (Stable Diffusion etc) and generative video. For digital professionals and very soon all of us this has been the most important past year in a very very long time and it’s going to impact so many areas of technology. Apple might not talk about it but every other major tech company is hardly talking about anything else

You may be right.

Those things let the illiterate write, the artistically skilless paint, and those with no acting ability or any creative talent at all make movies. I suppose music will be entirely computer generated soon also... most pop music these days is already about 90% dependent on computers or it couldn't be made.

The talentless and stupid will finally be able to participate.

Wonder what movies they'll make? "Ow my balls?"

 

[Boil]

The well-connected Apple reporter...

LOL...!

 

[Mr. Dee]

Apparently Mark is reading my rumors on Macrumors:

 

[mdnz]

Don't get your hopes up, it will be exactly like the current MBA just 2" bigger.

 

[reyesmac]

Now that they don't have gpu's that will make their computers obsolete faster, I wonder what excuse Apple will use to make their M1 macs obsolete faster? If the 15 inch model includes more GPU cores to run it, I suspect that will be the cutoff point for future planned obsolescence of the original M1 models.

 

[txscott]

"Don't get your hopes up, it will be exactly like the current MBA just 2" bigger."

Exactly what I'm looking for. Don't need a faster processor (M2 already faster than I will realistically need during the next 5-6 years) or a fancier display. Thin, light, fanless, 15" inch display.

 

[NT1440]

Wouldn't be so bad if even on PC laptops they wouldn't make it ridiculous to upgrade if you even can anymore. Used to be a panel. Unscrew open bam RAM and SSD upgraded in less than five mins. Do any manufacturers do that anymore. Even my dad's last desktop didn't have spare cables for a slave drive.

That’s what I tend to do at work, but for whatever reason the RAM is soldered on the AMD T16’s while they are not on the intel version. Very frustrating as the intels run the fans far more often.

 

[jimbobb24]

You may be right.

Those things let the illiterate write, the artistically skilless paint, and those with no acting ability or any creative talent at all make movies. I suppose music will be entirely computer generated soon also... most pop music these days is already about 90% dependent on computers or it couldn't be made.

The talentless and stupid will finally be able to participate.

Wonder what movies they'll make? "Ow my balls?"

Just like photography put an end to painting, movies put an end to theater, and synthesizers put an end to musical instruments….

The same creative people will be using the tools to do more than they are now and in new ways. And sure some new people will explore their artistic side with a new “medium”. Most of it will be just like most amateur stuff is now … for fun and personal expression.

 

[crsh1976]

Assuming it's only a 15-inch version of the current MBA and nothing more, it's as unworthy of a formal introduction as the addition of a new colour to the current iPhone models; a press release and a splash on the front page are enough, a new ad perhaps but not mandatory.

 

[Weasel13]

I’m trying to figure out the roadmap here. If this is true, the air will gain two inches and the MacBook Pro is 14 inch. The difference between the air and the pro will be an inch apart.

If someone can provide some insight, it would help.

It really isn't that hard. Air == Light, Pro == Heavy
See?

 

[turbineseaplane]

There probably hasn't been any leaks because it looks identical to the 13 inch...I wish they would add the option to include a promotion display or at least an illuminated Apple logo, SOMETHING fresh besides the screen size.

Same

I’m honestly getting less excited about it the more I think about it

I might just end up with a refurb or preowned MBP 14/16, simply for the vastly superior screens

 

[ric22]

Could have been an interesting product if it debuted a new processor, had a good screen, a good webcam, a nice design, no notch, USB-C ports on both sides, respectable RAM and storage.... I'll be shocked if it ticks one of those boxes. It'll just be a poor man's MacBook Pro, but with a tiny bit less chunkiness and weight, but at approximately 92% of the cost 😅

 

[turbineseaplane]

Don't get your hopes up, it will be exactly like the current MBA just 2" bigger.

Agree

I don’t see what is taking so long

This isn’t worthy of any announcement at WWDC…. Just press release and put it for sale.

 

[Realityck]

Agree

I don’t see what is taking so long

This isn’t worthy of any announcement at WWDC…. Just press release and put it for sale.

Maybe because it never existed.

 

[Surf760]

The 15" will have a nice market for the average consumer. I have a 16" MBP that's my main computer, and at home I use an M2 Air that I bought for an employee who no showed their first day. They're both great computers in their own right and for most tasks I don't notice the M2 being any slower than my Max (the exception being that the M2 throttles hard in that chassis after sustained load and my Max never has). That being said, I recommended the 16" Max to a colleague last year who isn't a power user but wanted a bigger screen and saw the christmas sales. He loves the computer but immediately said, "this thing is a brick." It's that buyer who will fall in love with a 15" MBA. The screen size difference is nominal, the MBA form factor is awesome, and he doesn't need the extra power.... It's a crowded lineup, but if they'd just kill off the touchbar MBP and kept it 2 MBAs and 2 MBPs it would work rather well.

 

[MrMojo1]

The 15" MBA may entice some Windows PC users to switch as it's a decent size.
Personally prefer >15" screens so anything smaller like the more popular 14" sized laptops are a No go as it's Too small.
A comparable 16" MBP seems good but way overpriced esp. compared to a Windows PC for thousands Less.
My Lenovo X1E1 [15.6” 4K display] still works and no need to upgrade for awhile but the 15" MBA sounds interesting.
It better have at least 16Gb Ram and 512G or 1Tb storage available. Let's see the cost when it debuts.