I've just bought a Macbook Air for the price of a refurbished model (to cut a long story, Apple sent me a brand new one after giving me two defective refurbed models). It's still in its wrapper but I'm hesitant to open it in case there's an update next week at WWDC and I want to exchange it. Is it worth keeping it wrapped up until then, or is the MBA likely to be dropped? I wouldn't usually worry but seeing as it's literally next week, I'm a bit wary. I love the MBA but if they even just upped the screen res a bit then it would surely be worth the wait, right...?
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How likely is the rumoured 2018 refresh of the Macbook Air?
- Thread starter TomOSeven
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Well you might as well wait a few more days, since you're concerned. Of course, if they do announce a new one it's not likely to be as cheap as what you have now and you might have to wait awhile before it actually ships. And it might just be a cheaper version of the Macbook with the keyboard everyone seems to hate too. 
There's also this:
https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/macbook-air/
"While some initial rumors suggested a June to April launch for the device, Apple has allegedly postponed production of its rumored 2018 MacBook Air device until the second half of the year, which means that it will not be available at the Worldwide Developers Conference and will instead launch sometime later in the year."
There's also this:
https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/macbook-air/
"While some initial rumors suggested a June to April launch for the device, Apple has allegedly postponed production of its rumored 2018 MacBook Air device until the second half of the year, which means that it will not be available at the Worldwide Developers Conference and will instead launch sometime later in the year."
No way, they know their customers would think that chip is a downgrade from the Haswell i5, because five is greater than three.
Everyone I know who knows/cares that an i5 is better than an i3 also knows that 4 generation of CPUs is a pretty big deal too. That chip is superior to the Haswell one in every way possible.
This may be the "new MacBook Air" https://www.macrumors.com/2018/05/29/pegatron-to-make-arm-based-apple-macbook/
"Pegatron has been tipped to land orders from Apple to produce an ARM-based MacBook, according to a brief DigiTimes report out on Tuesday."
https://www.macrumors.com/2018/05/29/pegatron-to-make-arm-based-apple-macbook/"Pegatron has been tipped to land orders from Apple to produce an ARM-based MacBook, according to a brief DigiTimes report out on Tuesday."
I wish it were true, but I just don't see it happening. This is coming from someone who recently "downgraded" to a 13in MBA. I've owned the 12in rMB, 13 MBP, and the 13in MBA. Aside from the screen, the MBA is the perfect laptop for me. I thought I would appreciate the screen more than the keyboard, but the MBA keyboard is so far and away better than the butterfly keyboards. Keyboard comfort > screen quality, at least for me, and I actually thought it would be the opposite.
Today I was considering the unthinkable... trading in my 11" MBA for a fully loaded 13" MBA... especially since Best Buy has the 8GB/512GB i7 13" MBA for $200 off. But they dropped the trade-in value on the 2014 11" MBA in half. I'm curious to see what, if anything, is announced at WWDC regarding the MBA... or maybe it'll be a footnote in 2 pt font that it is discontinued, like they did with the 11" MBA.
Have you realized that MBA was launched ten years ago?
Those was Windows XP years. Have you thinked about it? I think apple doesn't.
You can check EveryMac to keep track of the updates in MBA: https://everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook-air/index-macbook-air.html
I bet you haven't found any important redesign. MBA has only CPU updates. Since a time that Windows notebooks are massive and heavy.
But today, PC machines are so sexy, slevy, powerful and deadful (take a look in HP Spectre x360) that I think Apple has throw MBA out of their plans. 10 years since no upgrades? In this same ten years, how many iPhone upgrades did we have? And how many MBP redesigns?
I can't believe that Apple will invest money in a new MBA. iPhones are more profittable.
MacBook Air 13in 2010 model (wedge design). The prior MBA was a different body style, form factor, and internals, so the current model has been in production for about 7.5 years. Here are a list of improvements since introduction to Present (Winter 2010-2018):
- Numerous Processor and GPU updates
- RAM on base model from 2GB to 8GB
- Battery Life improved from 7 hours to 12 Hours
- Backlit Keyboard added
- Replaced Mini Display Port with Thunderbolt 2
- Entry price dropped from $1299 to $999
You are right about the introduction of the new body in 2010.
But I can't understand how MBA can stand against competition. You have the HP Spectre X360 as I told before, with an i7 8550 and 16Gb of Ram. Dell's XPS with the same rig. Lenovo's Yoga 920....
They are all premium laptops with better configs, great screens and smooth buttered performance. And in the case of Spectre great battery life.
The MBA is there only to offer a lower priced entry level laptop in Apple’ s lineup and I believe that it’ll be discontinued eventually. The “real” ultraportable Mac is the MacBook and it’s considerably lighter than the x360, the Yoga 920 and the XPS.
Those computers are actually more in the MBP 13” class. Currently the MBP is behind in terms of CPU because Apple didn’t update to the 8th gen yet but besides that it’s a very decent competitor to all the laptops you mentionned. Once you factor in macOS I’d pick the MBP anytime over those.
Apple needs to offer a 14" MacBook to truly replace what the MBA does for people. 12" size is simply too small for many uses and daily driver business people (some, not all), myself included
Of course, the MacBook does not yet completely replace the MacBook Air. In fact I think it never will because of legacy ports and the old keyboard.
My point is just that comparing the MBA to those laptops is not the right comparison to make. The MBA is a budget laptop that hasn't been updated much recently. It should be compared to budget laptop such as the Asus ZenBook (which honestly seems like a really good deal compared to the MBA), not to laptops at twice the price tag and with the weight of a MBP.
A 14" MacBook would be nice. Along with a reduced price tag on the 12" and Apple has a solid lineup IMO.
If one looks at the here-and-now, you are correct, the MBA isn't a factor.
The Windows systems you have cited are fairly new. There is no data as to how well they will hold up 4 or more years from now. Raw hardware specs and performance benchmarks tell a story, but not always the whole story. For example: With the forced updates of Windows 10, that buttery smooth performance of those new systems won't be so buttery 4 years from now... if the device is even still usable.
(caution: automobile metaphor ahead) The MBA is that old, reliable work truck. It isn't the nicest looking thing on the road. It doesn't out-pace newer cars from a standing start, but it doesn't require a lot of maintenance. Turn the key, and it goes. And when you have to go to the local home improvement store to pick up some lumber, it'll do it.
I can easily afford any computer that I want. At this point in time, I'd take a topped-out MBA (I will never again buy an MBP) over anything else on the Windows side because I know that it is a rock-solid design and built to last and can do the heavy-lifting that I need in a desktop computer (at least the heavy-lifting that I'd do with those Windows systems) for a long time. If I want to play games, I have a few game consoles. If I want a rich multimedia experience, I have carefully curated home entertainment system.
But that's me. Hopefully that helps give you some insight as to why someone might choose an MBA.
Do you really want that metaphor?... If so, we could also conclude that the MacBook Air is expensive to operate due to it's poor mileage, uncomfotable to ride in and a poor fit for regular daily use (unless you're going to the lumber yard).
My 2013 MBA is still my "daily driver" but I never would have chosen "work truck" as a metaphor. It's probably more like an older model small SUV. If the MBA is an "old work truck" then that assumes it was once a "new work truck" and the MBA was never intended to be that. My clunky old 15" 2008 MBP might be closer to an "old work truck".
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Well, I'm speaking from my first-hand experience. The MBA has been a reliable "work truck" for me. Absolutely reliable and never failed to deliver when I needed it to.Do you really want that metaphor?... If so, we could also conclude that the MacBook Air is expensive to operate due to it's poor mileage, uncomfotable to ride in and a poor fit for regular daily use (unless you're going to the lumber yard).
My 2013 MBA is still my "daily driver" but I never would have chosen "work truck" as a metaphor. It's probably more like an older model small SUV.
I have a 2012 quad core mini that I use for video and audio editing. That's much more like an old work truck. It has twice the capacity of my MBA, with 16gb RAM (MBA has 8), 1TB SSD (MBA is 512gb), 4 cores (MBA has 2) and a geekbench score twice as fast as the MBA. It's not pretty, it's old and not portable like the MBA. But a much better choice when you have some heavy hauling.
Work trucks aren't "impossibly thin" and don't have names like "Air". Just sayin'....
Work trucks aren't "impossibly thin" and don't have names like "Air". Just sayin'....
Yep, a small, reliable and economical city car is more comparable to the MBA. Can do 95% of what we use a computer for, costs less but can't replace a truck when it comes to heavy loads. Trucks are more comparable to the iMac Pro or at the very least MBP.I have a 2012 quad core mini that I use for video and audio editing. That's much more like an old work truck. It has twice the capacity of my MBA, with 16gb RAM (MBA has 8), 1TB SSD (MBA is 512gb), 4 cores (MBA has 2) and a geekbench score twice as fast as the MBA. It's not pretty, it's old and not portable like the MBA. But a much better choice when you have some heavy hauling.
Work trucks aren't "impossibly thin" and don't have names like "Air". Just sayin'....
Windows has always offered a great looking lineup. Yes, they've gotten better over the years (being more innovative and offering a more appealing looking product) but the bottom line is, Apple makes products that are known to last a very long time. The oldest Mac in my house is a 2008 iMac (which is good for basic tasks like browsing the web and email) It would be a bit harder to find a Windows computer still running fairly well at the same age.
Being a former Best Buy Geek Squad employee, I will tell you that 95% (if not more) of the computers we serviced were Windows laptops. The only time a Mac came back was from user inflicted damage (basically computer being dropped) or a failing HDD from time to time.
Windows has a more open system than a Mac OS and that's really the biggest difference. IF you know what you're doing (basically a tech savy individual that can troubleshoot basic OS issues) a windows computer could be more tolerable for you i guess.
But, your average consumer doesn't - and for that, I always recommend Mac.
Well, car analogies are never perfect. But, I think the main point sracer is making is that the MBA is an established model with an excellent track record of reliability, while also being relatively affordable (the MBA is frequently deeply discounted at BB). It can do everything most users need to do, and the battery life is amazing. Very few people run into spec limitations on their laptops because most of today's office and productivity applications are very mature and just don't tax the hardware.
Well you might as well wait a few more days, since you're concerned. Of course, if they do announce a new one it's not likely to be as cheap as what you have now and you might have to wait awhile before it actually ships. And it might just be a cheaper version of the Macbook with the keyboard everyone seems to hate too.
There's also this:
https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/macbook-air/
"While some initial rumors suggested a June to April launch for the device, Apple has allegedly postponed production of its rumored 2018 MacBook Air device until the second half of the year, which means that it will not be available at the Worldwide Developers Conference and will instead launch sometime later in the year."
My favorite computer out of the line up is the MacBook & it is almost tied with the Pro. I am curious to see what they do.
What day is the actual announcement?
Do you mean WWDC? That's on Monday June 4: https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/wwdc/
"Apple sometimes debuts new hardware at its Worldwide Developers Conference, but this year rumors have suggested that software will be the focus of the event with Apple not planning hardware announcements."
If you're waiting for a new MacBook [Air] then that could still be many months away, but of course nobody really knows. Here's one prediction: https://www.macrumors.com/2018/05/31/mark-gurman-wwdc-2018-preview/
"Gurman claims Apple is working on refreshed MacBook, MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Apple Watch models, and a new low-cost MacBook, but he doesn't expect any of those devices to be ready until "later this year."
- Refreshes to the 12-inch MacBook and MacBook Pro lines with next-generation Intel chips ready "later this year."
- A new low-cost notebook to succeed the MacBook Air ready "later this year.""
So you are saying they may reveal on the 4th but even the MacBook and the Pro models won't be actually show up on store shelves until later this year?
I am saying that you should read the article in my link and draw your own conclusions. Personally, I don't think there will be any introduction or even mention of new laptops on the 4th.
Personally, I don't think there will be any introduction or even mention of new laptops on the 4th.