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How likely is the rumoured 2018 refresh of the Macbook Air?

I expect a screen upgrade (non-retina still, but better quality) and an internal spec bump and very little else.

The Air is all about hitting a low entry price point and nothing else for Apple now (sadly).

I wish they'd go all in - give it retina and make it sort of the MacBook SE with all the classic features so many still love (KB, Ports, etc)

A MacBook Air/SE w/ Retina would 100% be my next laptop if they did that..
 
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OK, I'll accept that the 13" MBP w/o touchbar is all that and a light & portable bag of chips in this, the first quarter of 2018. It's also going for $1,300, or call it $1,200 if you go to B&H Photo or, sometimes, Best Buy.
Dandy.
So, given their current lineup, Apple can't or won't come up with an entry level to its notebook line for around a grand or slightly less with (1) updated processors, (2) a decent display, (3) a decent keyboard and (4) a reasonable number of the ports people want and use?
IMO, the MB and the basic MB Pro ain't getting that done.
And I realize this is the company (perhaps) dedicated to redefining computing and sending us into the no wires, no ports, no keyboard age. Advancing the ball, so to speak. (And in the meantime, buy some dongles.)
OK. Ducky.
Then someone else will take that sector of the market.
But my actual guess: Apple still sees some value in keeping some portion of the entry market into the better-end of notebooks, and they'll use the "Air" name to do it.
'Course, two things: They know their actual sales numbers, and I don't. And this is Apple, and contrarian is a part of their thing. I mean, who else thought eliminating a 3.5mm headphone jack in a phone was a good idea?
 
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Things that would make me consider ditching my Windows machine:

1. Macbook Air 13" with a 1080p or perhaps even Retina display
2. 14" Macbook

I think both are unlikely and all we'll get is a slight price cut for the 2017 12" Macbook.
 
TomOSeven said:
Things that would make me consider ditching my Windows machine:

1. Macbook Air 13" with a 1080p or perhaps even Retina display
2. 14" Macbook

I think both are unlikely and all we'll get is a slight price cut for the 2017 12" Macbook.
Click to expand...

The rumour is that there will be an updated MacBook Air with a price range of around $799 - $899, there are also other rumours that say it's not an Air but is a 13" MacBook (Digitimes have said this)

https://www.macrumors.com/2018/01/23/apple-new-entry-level-13-inch-macbook-this-year/

Maybe it is a 13" MacBook and the price of the Air will drop to $799 and the 12" MacBook will drop to $999

OR

It is a MacBook Air with retina added at a cheaper price while the MacBook keeps it's premium price.
 
Dave245 said:
Maybe it is a 13" MacBook
Click to expand...

How would that differ from the current 13" MBP? So many questions.

Even if that uses the bottom of the line i5-8250u processors, it'll be more powerful than the base 13" MBP from 2017.
 
TomOSeven said:
How would that differ from the current 13" MBP? So many questions.

Even if that uses the bottom of the line i5-8250u processors, it'll be more powerful than the base 13" MBP from 2017.
Click to expand...

It would be a version of the MacBook so low powered, not everyone needs the MacBook Pro or it’s power, the 12” MacBook exists for that reason.
 
TomOSeven said:
Things that would make me consider ditching my Windows machine:

1. Macbook Air 13" with a 1080p or perhaps even Retina display
2. 14" Macbook

I think both are unlikely and all we'll get is a slight price cut for the 2017 12" Macbook.
Click to expand...

1080 is many years over due.
 
eplchamps said:
1080 is many years over due.
Click to expand...

I think IF they do update the Air a retina screen is likely to be included after all they don't cost as much as they use to, Rene Ritchie from iMore seems to think that Apple can still reduce the price while adding a retina screen and improving the specs a little.

This report also thinks there will be a 13" MacBook or Air update with a retina screen at 2,560-by-1,600 resolution.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/brooke...ech-suggests-two-13-inch-models/#118d989b4d17
 
Dave245 said:
It would be a version of the MacBook so low powered, not everyone needs the MacBook Pro or it’s power, the 12” MacBook exists for that reason.
Click to expand...
The 12” MacBook exists to be portable, not low powered. The Core Y chips cost as much as their i counterparts - if they could put more power inside you don’t think they would? Portable computer design is still about trade-offs, in the case of the MB, the philosophy is geared towards being small and light to the exclusion of all else...
 
Falhófnir said:
The 12” MacBook exists to be portable, not low powered. The Core Y chips cost as much as their i counterparts - if they could put more power inside you don’t think they would? Portable computer design is still about trade-offs, in the case of the MB, the philosophy is geared towards being small and light to the exclusion of all else...
Click to expand...

Yes it's about being portable BUT it's also about the average user who doesn't need the power of the MacBook Pro, surfing the web, watching Netflix, social media, Youtube and stuff like that can be done on the 12" MacBook, i don't think Apple need to put more powerful processors into a 13" MacBook, it's not needed when the target audience is different from that of the Pro.
 
My point is, unless they deliberately want to gimp the performance, the base i5 in the Kaby Lake R generation is already more powerful than the base MBP 2017. Wouldn't put it past Apple to cripple the performance intentionally so as not to eat into the MBP line.
 
TomOSeven said:
My point is, unless they deliberately want to gimp the performance, the base i5 in the Kaby Lake R generation is already more powerful than the base MBP 2017. Wouldn't put it past Apple to cripple the performance intentionally so as not to eat into the MBP line.
Click to expand...

The current MacBook's are not as fast as the MacBook Pro's, Apple will probably use the same processors in the 13" version. It's not like there hasn't been different ones before, there was an 11" MacBook Air and a 13" MacBook Air at one point, the same could be done here.

That's assuming Apple is going to do that, it could be that they simply update the Air.
 
Falhófnir said:
It'd be scaled in that scenario.
Click to expand...

But using preferred 2x scaling that Apple employs and prefers on laptops, the effective resolution would be too low (960x540) on a 1080p panel. Also, if they employed non 2x scaling, ot would be taxing and not look as good.

They could just "put a 1080p" panel in there, but to his point, things would be too small without scaling and Apple does have a target/best/most usable PPI they shoot for on each screen size and context I believe.
[doublepost=1521734634][/doublepost]I'm confused at this point..
Which rumor are we basing this MBA speculation off of anyhow?

(I'm honestly not too convinced anything at all is happening to the MBA other than further stagnation, ala the Mac Mini)
 
turbineseaplane said:
But using preferred 2x scaling that Apple employs and prefers on laptops, the effective resolution would be too low (960x540) on a 1080p panel. Also, if they employed non 2x scaling, ot would be taxing and not look as good.

They could just "put a 1080p" panel in there, but to his point, things would be too small without scaling and Apple does have a target/best/most usable PPI they shoot for on each screen size and context I believe.
[doublepost=1521734634][/doublepost]I'm confused at this point..
Which rumor are we basing this MBA speculation off of anyhow?

(I'm honestly not too convinced anything at all is happening to the MBA other than further stagnation, ala the Mac Mini)
Click to expand...
Non integer scaling is now standard on all retina MacBooks - 1440x900 displayed on a 1920x1200 panel would look fine, I'm sure, 1080p windows laptops look fine and they don't work with exact resolutions either. I no longer believe this will be the case, as it's not been rumoured (a 13" retina MacBook, or simply a price cut to the air is what's been mooted) but I don't think it would be that big an issue technologically.
 
My guess?

13" MacBook Air will become the EDU-option at $799. It will be removed from Apples main header and only be offered for schools and businesses, much like the old 11" MBA with 64GB Storage.

For consumers, the MacBook and MacBook Pro will remain.

-12" MacBook will be reduced to $1099 and effectively replace the old 11" MBA.
-13" MacBook will be released at WWDC, replacing the old 13" MBA. Priced at $1299.

I could be completely wrong. We'll know soon enough! :)
 
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MacRazySwe said:
My guess?

13" MacBook Air will become the EDU-option at $799. It will be removed from Apples main header and only be offered for schools and businesses, much like the old 11" MBA with 64GB Storage.

For consumers, the MacBook and MacBook Pro will remain.

-12" MacBook will be reduced to $1099 and effectively replace the old 11" MBA.
-13" MacBook will be released at WWDC, replacing the old 13" MBA. Priced at $1299.

I could be completely wrong. We'll know soon enough! :)
Click to expand...
I think you’re about right with this, the wildcard being a 13” MacBook that could replace the nTB pro, or even slot in below it at 999 if Apple are feeling less inclined to keep the lineup topiary pruned
 
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Falhófnir said:
Non integer scaling is now standard on all retina MacBooks
Click to expand...

Oh I'm not saying it isn't there and doesn't work, but my eyes show a difference in clarity (not huge, but it's there) when using it.

I'm just not sure they'd want to launch a product where non integer scaling is the default/required setting.

Do they do that on any now? (I have no idea)
 
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turbineseaplane said:
Oh I'm not saying it isn't there and doesn't work, but my eyes show a difference in clarity (not huge, but it's there) when using it.

I'm just not sure they'd want to launch a product where non integer scaling is the default/required setting.

Do they do that on any now? (I have no idea)
Click to expand...
I agree it is a noticeable difference, but I still believe it'd result in a better overall image than the current air produces - Full HD on a 13.3" display is surprisingly sharp (about 170ppi).

The current pros all default to non integer scaling - the 15" retains the 2,880x1,800 panel that would be @2x of a 1,440x900 resolution, but by default it shows 1,680x1,050 worth of content interpolated to the display. I don't think they will launch a FHD air (anymore) as there's no rumours for it, but I do think it would have been a viable upgrade for the computer if they'd continued to keep it current.
 
Falhófnir said:
I agree it is a noticeable difference, but I still believe it'd result in a better overall image than the current air produces - Full HD on a 13.3" display is surprisingly sharp (about 170ppi).

The current pros all default to non integer scaling - the 15" retains the 2,880x1,800 panel that would be @2x of a 1,440x900 resolution, but by default it shows 1,680x1,050 worth of content interpolated to the display. I don't think they will launch a FHD air (anymore) as there's no rumours for it, but I do think it would have been a viable upgrade for the computer if they'd continued to keep it current.
Click to expand...

A more recent rumour states that the so called 13” MacBook will have a resolution of 2560 x 1600

https://www.forbes.com/sites/brooke...ech-suggests-two-13-inch-models/#40f5f0af4d17
 
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turbineseaplane said:
Don't the 13" Pro's all use that panel now?

Would make sense to use it across the line at that size
Click to expand...

Yea that’s what the article says, the person who’s being quoted says that the new 13” MacBook will have a-si Display while the MacBook Pro gets a IGZO display.

"Based on the planned 13.3-inch panel production there will be two new 13.3-inch units, with the oxide panel almost certainly going to the 13.3-inch MacBook Pro product," Alexander said.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/brooke...ech-suggests-two-13-inch-models/#3ae125124d17
 
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