I'm shocked at how thick the new MBP is. Apple needs to make a 15-inch MacBook Air
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alphasports
macrumors regular
My 9510 is inbound as we speakIf I had a dollar for every "15" MBA needed!" thread that exists on MR, I could afford a loaded 16" MBP with money left overI waited a long time for a non-pro 15/16" Apple laptop to appear, but realizing it will probably never happen, I finally gave up and bought a base model Dell XPS 9510 to have the screen real estate I needed at a reasonable price.
tho' I will keep my MBA M1 for "personal use", Dell for heavy lifting/work.
TechRunner
macrumors 68020
Given everything I'd heard about Dell's QC issues, I hesitated to order one. But mine came out of the box flawless and has been rock solid for the last five weeks. Hope yours is the same!My 9510 is inbound as we speak
Tech_Mac_Man
macrumors regular
I got to see the 14" 16" and the Air in person today at the Apple store and the 16" is a HEAVY beast to carry around all day. Hopefully the NEW Macbook Air will be 14" or 15" with a slimmer body and weight.
CrazyForCashews
macrumors 65816
I really hope the 2022 MacBook Air at least has black bezels.
dumastudetto
macrumors 603
Try an iPad Pro 12.9" if you feel the legacy Mac product line doesn't fit your needs anymore.
Having compared a 13 inch and 14 inch side by side, for me the 14 inch size isnt a big enough step up for having 2 documents side by side. I think there is a real need for a 15-16 inch non pro version. They will lose customers if they don't produce one. I have already switched to a windows laptop as I needed a bigger screen and the pro is way too expensive when you don't need the power. Quality wise, theres a lot of PC laptops that are not that far behind apple any more - they have decent competition. Once people start leaving the ecosystem they start looking at other options for phones etc too. Im currently looking at a samsung phone for when my iphone dies. Ive only ever had iphones and have used macs for as long as I can remember - but they dont make a product for me anymore. I hope that changes and they bring in a non pro 15-16 inch.
russell_314
Suspended
I don't agree. How would they "loose customers" by not making a product that they never made. Those customers were never buying from Apple so why would they lose them. I'm confused as to what your situation is... Did you buy a 13" MacBook Air or Pro when you really needed a larger screen? Since you bought a Windows laptop now for what I'm guessing is the same tasks why did you buy a Mac in the first place?
I agree it would be a good idea for Apple to make a 16" MacBook Air but it's not going to be much direct competition for a Windows laptop. If anything it will take away from MacBook Pro sales. I don't think it targets the same customer wants and needs of a Windows laptop. You can buy a fairly decent 15" Windows laptop for around $700. A 16" MacBook Air will likely start at about twice that amount. If someone is happy with how a Windows laptop performs I don't see a reason why they would pay double for a laptop because it looks like a Mac. Maybe if they were a big Apple fan but those people would already be buying an existing Apple product. I'm not interested in a Windows laptop because it doesn't do what I want. I would buy a 16" Air in a heartbeat because I want better battery life with full performance when unplugged without loud fans. I also need it to be in the Apple ecosystem so I can do things like iMessage and notifications. If I couldn't get the 16" Air my next choice would be the rumored 14" Air and if that doesn't happen then a 14" Pro base model for about $1500. The only reason I would buy a Windows laptop is if I was in some bad financial situation where I couldn't afford a Mac and had to have a computer. At that point I would make the best out of it.
I use Windows for gaming but for productivity and general use it just doesn't do well with my workflow. If I could make it work I would save $$$$ but the aggravation isn't worth it for me.
I am currently on a 2017 15” MBP. It has been a great size, honestly: More screen real estate than the 13” models without a ton of additional size and weight. Using a smaller screen now feels cramped. Having 4 thunderbolt ports has come in handy countless times…trying to picture having just 2 is stressful to even think about. I bought all the adapters years ago, so living the usb-c-only life is pretty easy at this stage.
The problem is that Apple doesn’t really have a current product that hits this Goldilocks zone for those that like larger screens. The 14” is probably closest, but it is very expensive and comes with the return of some ports I just wouldn’t use very often (the spec of hdmi they put in it can’t run high-res screens, the sd slot is used rarely enough where I don’t mind the adapter). The 16” has gotten too heavy and large - I would be hesitant to commit to it as a computer to travel with regularly.
A 15” Air option would be perfect. It would fill the niche I/we are all seeking and would continue the use-case of the previous 15” models very well. I hope Apple makes it.
The problem is that Apple doesn’t really have a current product that hits this Goldilocks zone for those that like larger screens. The 14” is probably closest, but it is very expensive and comes with the return of some ports I just wouldn’t use very often (the spec of hdmi they put in it can’t run high-res screens, the sd slot is used rarely enough where I don’t mind the adapter). The 16” has gotten too heavy and large - I would be hesitant to commit to it as a computer to travel with regularly.
A 15” Air option would be perfect. It would fill the niche I/we are all seeking and would continue the use-case of the previous 15” models very well. I hope Apple makes it.
They lose customers like me because I want a bigger screen. Ive had a 13 inch mbp as my daily driver for the last few laptops. Ive gotten older - I need a bigger screen. Most people who only want a bigger screen have zero intentions of paying for the new pros - they're way too expensive for people that don't need the power. How is that so difficult to understand? I have used MacOS for as long as I can remember. I prefer it. I would rather use it than windows. We also have apple TV, a few ipads and a few iphones in the house - its been the preferred brand for a long time because everything worked together so well. Now that I am outside the garden with my laptop, its not as seamless a system anymore. I no longer feel tied in the way I did, and if they don't release something with a larger screen, as I replace things, they simply wont be apple anymore. Apple makes its money from its ecosystem as a whole. When people start stepping out of it, it can end up costing them quite a lot of money over time. Making a 15/16 inch non-pro version would bring in more customers. I don't think it would cost them many 16 inch pro customers - not that many people are going to pay that much for a laptop they don't need - especially outside of the US where they are priced much higher.
Marty_Macfly
macrumors 6502a
Hi Avalon,
Outside in the garden in Feb?! ?
I'm in the UK at the moment - no chance of that! ?
I agree with you on all fronts.
The 13" M1 MBA plugged into the work station is fine - happily running 2 x 24" screens
Now as a standalone downstairs now - damn the screen is tiny!
For personal use - I'm not a power user, but would really appreciate a bigger screen... happy with the current power of the existing M1 MBA.
Apple are reaching out to more customers, E.g. Watch SE, iPhone SE. Hoping that extends to the laptop market as well, a real market for apple to expand into.
So yes, I am hoping there is a 15" MBA - an instant purchase - if I can get it pass the missus ?
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Marty_Macfly
macrumors 6502a
hhhmmmm....
Not sure why people think a 15" MBA would not fit in the line up.
The below makes perfect sense to me - Covering Different use cases.
£1,000 13" MBA - E.g. Personal - Student, on the go
£1,500 15" MBA - E.g. Personal - Need the Big screen!
£2,000 14" MBP - E.g. Pro - Want small form factor for travel
£2,500 16" MBP - E.g. Pro - Need the Big one! Screen and Power.
Best Wishes
Martin
Not sure why people think a 15" MBA would not fit in the line up.
The below makes perfect sense to me - Covering Different use cases.
£1,000 13" MBA - E.g. Personal - Student, on the go
£1,500 15" MBA - E.g. Personal - Need the Big screen!
£2,000 14" MBP - E.g. Pro - Want small form factor for travel
£2,500 16" MBP - E.g. Pro - Need the Big one! Screen and Power.
Best Wishes
Martin
Student of Life
macrumors 65816
This is strange since Apple won't do this, but they will let you use an iPad as a secondary screen so that's the work around solution.
Apple does the math and contrary to what people are saying, its worth more to them to keep the 14/16 as a pro for now. The redesigned Air should be 14. Size is a premium and Apple knows how to get every penny from its customers.
Apple does the math and contrary to what people are saying, its worth more to them to keep the 14/16 as a pro for now. The redesigned Air should be 14. Size is a premium and Apple knows how to get every penny from its customers.
Marty_Macfly
macrumors 6502a
Hi S,
Here is hoping at least!
If there was a 2017 15” MBP - then time for a 15" refresh! Be it a MBA ?
Regards
Martin
Marty_Macfly
macrumors 6502a
Good YouTube video on this! ?
Here is hoping!
ric22
Suspended
I concur. A 15" screen should be offered for those that want a bigger screen than 13", without being forced to turn to Windows or a MacBook Pro that costs 2 1/2 times the money.
Edit: It would also be nice not to have a damn notch, fugly all-black keyboard, hideous iMac 14 white surround, or non-tapered MacBook Pro style body shape that digs into our wrists. Somehow I suspect Apple would like to spite us with all those features...
Edit: It would also be nice not to have a damn notch, fugly all-black keyboard, hideous iMac 14 white surround, or non-tapered MacBook Pro style body shape that digs into our wrists. Somehow I suspect Apple would like to spite us with all those features...
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I always wonder what people mean when they say “should”. As in, Apple owes it to them? Or for Apple’s benefit? Or do they just mean they wish?
ric22
Suspended
In this instance, "should" as in it makes sense for the company AND for the consumer. People would be all over that. It's not like people are spending an extra $1400 just to get a bigger screen. I know a number of people that stick with windows laptops because they don't want a little 13 screen after many years accustomed to using 15" laptop screens.
Edit: Apple famously thought they knew better than the consumer regarding phone screen size, but they had to admit they ****ed that up. I really do believe a 15" Air as good as the current Air, would sell like hotcakes.
ric22
Suspended
Exactly! The argument against baffles me.
James Godfrey
macrumors 68020
The MacBook Pro is not for the aesthetics, it’s for pure performance and designed around it.
If you want something sleek and sexy, the upcoming MacBook Air, or the M1 MBA or MBP are what is geared towards that market.
Apple’s Mac line up is changing drastically since the transition, and in my opinion for the better.
The current M1 iMac and MBA being geared towards the more casual users who like their devices to look and feel stylish, but at the same time perform well for their more casual needs.
The current MBP 14”/16”, Mac Studio and Studio Display being geared towards the more pro user base, not worrying about it looking sleek and focusing more on pure performance.
The market which the MBP’s are geared towards generally won’t give two sh**s about what it looks like as long as it has the much needed IO and performs really well during heavy workloads.
If you want something sleek and sexy, the upcoming MacBook Air, or the M1 MBA or MBP are what is geared towards that market.
Apple’s Mac line up is changing drastically since the transition, and in my opinion for the better.
The current M1 iMac and MBA being geared towards the more casual users who like their devices to look and feel stylish, but at the same time perform well for their more casual needs.
The current MBP 14”/16”, Mac Studio and Studio Display being geared towards the more pro user base, not worrying about it looking sleek and focusing more on pure performance.
The market which the MBP’s are geared towards generally won’t give two sh**s about what it looks like as long as it has the much needed IO and performs really well during heavy workloads.
ric22
Suspended
Who are you replying to? Wrong thread?
James Godfrey
macrumors 68020
The original poster considering the thread is about how chunky the new MacBook Pro is… and I am posting my opinion that the MBP isn’t designed to be aesthetically pleasing… or am I missing something?
ric22
Suspended
Ah, sorry. I scanned up and down the second page and couldn't see who you were responding to. I agree the Pro is chunky but with good reason.
So... do you agree or disagree with the title of the thread? Do you think we need a 15" MacBook Air on the market?