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Gurman: New 13-Inch and 15-Inch MacBook Airs Likely to Launch by Summer
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M3 Chip on the smaller MacBook Air and M2 Chip on the bigger MacBook Air? Sounds about Tim cook Apple
the only thing supporting the idea that it’ll have M3 is the fact that the Air has consistently been the first computer with the next-gen chip, going “all the way” back to M1. that and the obvious fact that Apple wants to update these on a yearly basis, even with supply chain constrictions holding them back. the vision for M-series has clearly always been the same as the one for A-series, as they aspire to make the Mac more popular than ever.
but to your credit, I swear to God, this is literally all speculation on his part. I’m sick of hearing about it.
I would love to see a M3 Air, but my impression based on previous news was that the iPhone 15 Pro would receive the 3nm treatment first, and everything else would come later.
maybe?
It already has… For years.
At least since the A7, with a couple exceptions, Apple has gone back-and-forth between a tick (process shrink) and a tock (same process, just improved).
A12 was a tick, first 7NM processor.
A13: Tock, improved 7NM processor.
A14: first 5NM processor.
A15: improved 5NM processor.
Obviously the pandemic has shook things up a bit, but the A17 and M3 both look to be a massive tick, with not only a new 3 nm process, but also major graphics improvements.
Meanwhile the A18 and M4 will more than likely just be improvements on the same process.
TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️
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Just the other day we were considering the M3 shows up in 2024. Again you have year old M1 Ultra Mac Studio for sale, more recent M2 Pro/Max introduced Jan 2023, and now this spin about M3 base by WWDC 2023. Making new 3nm architecture SoC’s is not easy.
just moe "news" from Gurman indicating that he has no clue what is really going on, just throwing things at the wall, something might stick ...
M3 went into production late last year, the first set of completed chips are ready for assembly - which product do they go into? not a 24 iMac, a anew product - 15 MBA, pretty sure we'll see the announced in the next few weeks ...
M3 went into production late last year, the first set of completed chips are ready for assembly - which product do they go into? not a 24 iMac, a anew product - 15 MBA, pretty sure we'll see the announced in the next few weeks ...
1000 nit sustained XDR MiniLED displays use much more battery capacity, specially the larger the display is. Thats is going away from Air lightness to a 14"/16" MBP. Perhaps eventually you'll see a OLED display used.
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I'm just an enthusiast who 'drank the Kool-Aid' in 1994 and I follow this site as a weird hobby. If I were a gamer, I'm sure I'd be elsewhere...but I just find the Apple story (and their products) to be fascinating.
That said, I would expect neon to be under force majeure very soon given that 50-90% (depending on what source you read) of the world's supply for semi-conductor grade neon came from Ukraine and it has been off-line for a while (and perhaps permanently). The vast majority of the remainder comes from China, which gives China exactly what it wants...power over Taiwan. Apple may have a little pull here (presumably much more than Intel given the Foxconn investments), but long term, someone needs to build the infrastructure outside Ukraine/Russia for a host of materials...and fast.
Force majeure would negate any long-term supply contracts. I do have a little experience in geo-political supply chain as my company imports baltic birch plywood from Russia...what a colossal ****-show...as well as various petrochemicals worldwide (another milder ****-show). The 2020s have been completely different than the last 40 years...and there's no sign of it returning back to "normal".
Also, I'm basing some of my assumptions over the rumored price increases for the 3nm process. One one hand, you get more chips on every wafer...but on the other hand, these processes are getting really sophisticated and really expensive. I would not be surprised if the M1/M2 remains the price/performance sweet spot for a while.
And again, the M1 simply rocks. Despite buying a maxed out M2 Macbook Pro, my kids would never be able to tell the difference between my $6500 laptop and their $900 MacBook Airs (aside from screen size, obviously).
The 15” Air launching in the Spring/Summer makes a ton of sense. Pop in an M2 or maybe even an M2 Pro and a lot of people would be more than happy. Where this rumor gets weird is the 13” part…
The 13” is currently not even a year old and it already has the M2. Are we really expecting the M3 to be ready by Summer? If it is, it makes zero sense to put an M3 in the 13” and leave the 15” with an M2…
Seems much more likely that we get the 15” Air with an M2 this spring along with the Mac Pro and a new iPhone color. Then in the fall, Apple debuts the M3 with an updated 13” Air and an updated iMac.
Edit: Just read another article that was a lot more clear. The rumor is the M3 launch will be at WWDC and the chip will debut in both the 13” air and 15” air. Although this does leave the question of if Apple will also use the M3 for their VR headset rather than the M2… Should be an interesting summer!
The 13” is currently not even a year old and it already has the M2. Are we really expecting the M3 to be ready by Summer? If it is, it makes zero sense to put an M3 in the 13” and leave the 15” with an M2…
Seems much more likely that we get the 15” Air with an M2 this spring along with the Mac Pro and a new iPhone color. Then in the fall, Apple debuts the M3 with an updated 13” Air and an updated iMac.
Edit: Just read another article that was a lot more clear. The rumor is the M3 launch will be at WWDC and the chip will debut in both the 13” air and 15” air. Although this does leave the question of if Apple will also use the M3 for their VR headset rather than the M2… Should be an interesting summer!
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UX Design. Secured a couple big contracts and negotiated for more. Survived layoffs.
I agree 100% with this. I could have written your text. Stupid you have to stick to the pro versions of everything just for the better screen.The 15" Air would be a Day One buy for me, regardless of the chip...if it had mini LED.
The MacBook Pro I have is definitely overkill for me. I don't need all this processing power or RAM. And I'd love to have a lighter-weight laptop that does everything I'd need it to do. Unfortunately, I've been using this incredibly beautiful mini LED display for over a year now and there's no way I could go back to a standard LCD.
Thank you so much. I am very grateful for what I have. Never thought I'd be where I am until it just happened.
Cost, 500 nit LCD LED back lit displays are cheaper/power efficient then mini-LED. OLED eventually maybe for MBA.
One of the questions yet to be answered is weight in all these MBA rumors.
M2 SDR 13.6" screen MBA is 2.7 pounds (1.24 kg)
M2 HDR 14.2" screen MBP is 3.5 pounds (1.60 kg) M2 Pro; 3.6 pounds (1.63 kg) M2 Max
M2 HDR 16.2" screen MBP is 4.7 pounds (2.15 kg) M2 Pro; 4.8 pounds (2.16 kg) M2 Max
Larger SDR 15.5" screen MBA requires a larger battery, also chassis is heavier, if it M2 Pro that will add weight too. The larger 15" MBA might not be as easy to use will transportation (airplane, rail, bus) or fit into a backpack. Just things to consider comparing to your 4.3 pounds (2.0 kg) 2019 16" model.
I've been waiting for this Macbook air 15-inch for so long, looks like it was worth waiting!! heard rumors that Apple will put back its logo blinker again on the upcoming Macbook air 15-inch!
I'm thinking Apple is announcing M3 chips (in some variant) at WWDC. If the 15" Air hasn't launched by then, It's probably a safe bet that Apple will announce that and a revision of the 13" at that point.
I hope so! We'll see soon enough... Excited to see how much better M3 can be. Hopefully also in a 12" form factor.
I hope so! We'll see soon enough... Excited to see how much better M3 can be. Hopefully also in a 12" form factor.
1000 nit sustained XDR MiniLED displays use much more battery capacity, specially the larger the display is. Thats is going away from Air lightness to a 14"/16" MBP. Perhaps eventually you'll see a OLED display used.
Ultimately I think they will transition away from LCD on all their displays, but it might take the adoption of Micro LED for that to happen.