Kuo: 15-Inch MacBook Air to Offer Two M2 Chip Options, No M2 Pro Configuration

[Lounge vibes 05]

Not saying its not a smart move, the problem is the M3 is a few months away from the 15 M2 MBA

Based on what?
Literally everything right now is speculation, and it is very possible that we could still be a year out or longer from an M3 Air.
Remember, the MacBook Air is Apple’s consumer option, they could easily wait until after the iMac and MBPs get M3 before bringing it down to the MacBook Air and Mac mini.
Why do I think this? Because it’s literally what they do with their own silicon in every other product they make.
Just look at the iPad line, the cheapest is still stuck on the A13, the slightly more expensive one has the A14, the iPad mini which is even more expensive has the A15, the iPad Air has the M1 and the iPad Pro has the M2.
The M3 is obviously slated for a Mac mini, two MacBook Airs, a 13 inch MacBook Pro and an iMac, plus the iPad Pro and eventually the air.
That could easily be spread out into 18 months of product introductions, and it’s very likely that Apple might not start with the air.
Just because the M1 came to the air first does not mean that’s a pattern, Apple needed a cheap enough product to entice developers to start moving towards Apple Silicon compatibility, and it just so happens the Air was the perfect introductory product.
M3 it’s just a new revision, it doesn’t really need to be developed for relatively, apps don’t need to be rewritten for it, it’s just a spec bump.
And in the history of spec bumps, it was always the MacBook Air that came last.
The MacBook Air was the last product to move away from the Core 2 duo two years after everything else, it was the last Mac to get a backlit keyboard, the last Mac to get a 720P WebCam, the last Mac to get a retina display, the last Mac to eventually get USB-C ports, the last Mac to get true tone, the last Mac to get a 1080P webcam, the last Mac to get a force touch trackpad… Need I go on?

 

[AF_APPLETALK]

Not saying its not a smart move, the problem is the M3 is a few months away from the 15 M2 MBA, which will make people either mad that they got an "outdated" device or will make them wait, so those M2 chips will still not sell
instead, they could just decrease the prices for the 8gb or make 16GB standard for the base price, that would be a better way of increasing sales for the M2

I would normally agree but they're still selling M1 machines (iMac, Mac Studio)

 

[currocj]

Unfortunately, likely no. It seems wild that in 2023, a laptop that costs more than $1,000 does not have dual monitor support

this. Sad that apple is pushing out that dual display capability to 2024 or 2025 on the air. sad

 

[CWallace]

I would normally agree but they're still selling M1 machines (iMac, Mac Studio)

That's a standard strategy for Apple, however (since Tim took over). The oldest model trickles down the price ladder until something newer becomes cheap enough to replace it.

Once M3 is mainstream, the M2s will drop down to the current M1's price and M1 models will be phased out.

 

[woolypants]

Apple's really pushing the envelope of its product categorisations with the 15in Air.

Users will have a choice of whether they want small or large screens in the "normal" or "pro" ranges of laptops.

This is also why rumours about Apple bringing back the 12in MacBook could be true. Apple might introduce a "mini" range of laptops with 12in screens, to add a third strand. Or at least they might've done before the current economic issues.

But I know many people would LOVE a compact MacBook Air with a 12in screen, just as many of us love having a 16in screen MacBook Pro option. In theory the iPad should be plugging this "mini" gap but it's just not hitting home with enough people to be considered an option.

 

[CWallace]

this. Sad that apple is pushing out that dual display capability to 2024 or 2025 on the air. sad

I doubt Apple will ever allow the MacBook Air to run more than one monitor since additional monitor support is one of the reasons to upgrade to the MacBook Pro.

 

[AF_APPLETALK]

That's a standard strategy for Apple, however (since Tim took over). The oldest model trickles down the price ladder until something newer becomes cheap enough to replace it.

Once M3 is mainstream, the M2s will drop down to the current M1's price and M1 models will be phased out.

There's no M2 iMac or M2 Mac Studio though, is what I'm saying. The M3 iMac isn't even slated to be released until fall/late fall. They're super behind, so M2 chips are still quite relevant and probably will be for the next year or so.

 

[lazyrighteye]

But will it support dual display?

Guessing “no.”

That is the only issue I have w/ my 13” MBA M2. Otherwise, it’s my favorite laptop I’ve used to date.

 

[BB1970]

Im thinking it will be some sort of M2 Plus. Not just a larger screened version of the current M2

 

[CWallace]

There's no M2 iMac or M2 Mac Studio though, is what I'm saying. The M3 iMac isn't even slated to be released until fall/late fall. They're super behind, so M2 chips are still quite relevant and probably will be for the next year or so.

I do not believe the iMac or Mac Studio sell enough units to justify being on an annual refresh cycle. So it would make sense for Apple to skip refreshing them to M2 and instead they will be refreshed with M3 (and they will then skip M4 and be refreshed with M5).

I expect the Mac mini to also go to an "every other generation" refresh cycle, as well, and will either skip M3 for M4 or it will get M3, but will then not be refreshed until M5 alongside the iMac and Mac Studio.

 

[coffeemilktea]

Between the Air being the "less powerful" MacBook, and the M2 already having great performance, I really doubt the lack of an "M2 Pro" option (or the lack of M3) would be any kind of deal-breaker. 🤔

 

[txscott]

That product is not for me, but it is going to be one hot seller.

That will likely turn out to be correct (the hot seller part). And it's exactly what Apple needs to be doing--addressing multiple market segments simultaneously. You presumably need or want more powerful internals, you should get that. Others (like me) don't need or want the most powerful processors but do want more screen real estate. Apple needs both of us as customers.

 

[eas]

Apple halted the M2 chip production due to poor sales , so instead of using the M3 chip here they are using the left overs and try to profit from them
most people will still wait for the M3 Apple

I'd guess that most people won't care. Of those that do, most will wait for the M6 -- at that point their existing computer will be old enough that they'll give up one waiting for the thing that's just around the corner.

 

[boak]

At this stage, I think it makes way more business sense to release M3 in the powerful models and then trickle them down to the cheaper models 6-12 months later (like Apple does with iPhone now).

Not at all. You're suggesting they sit on a ready-to-ship chip for a higher volume product while they work on more complex chips?

 

[boak]

Most customers wouldn't know nor care that the M3 is potentially coming sooner than the usual product cycle.

 

[unregbaron]

Starting at $1899 maybe?

 

[ginkobiloba]

It makes sense. A lot of people were buying the more expensive MBPros just for the larger screen, not the power. A 15” Air was long due.
Unless you’re doing heavy-duty video compositing, 3D modeling, or audio mixing, the non-pro processor is already more than you need.

 

[no_idea]

I'm on an M2 8CPU/10GPU air and it's smooth as butter. I don't understand why people would think the Air would ever carry a "pro" processor. It's not marketed as a pro product. A standard M2 is good enough for the target audience IMO.

 

[Gengar]

That is the whole point. Significantly more screen real-estate and (likely) more battery life. Exactly like they do for the MacBook Pro's

What specifically were you expecting?

This is specifically what I was expecting, LOL.

I'm just trying to keep up with all of these rumors going back and forth on what this is supposed to be.

 

[boak]

It will start at $1399 for 8/256.

Higher core-count M2, 16/512 configuration will be $1899, close enough to the $1999 base M2 Pro MBP14 to upsell.

 

[The Cappy]

So just a bigger MacBook Air. Got it.

I guess it's going to be well named then.

 

[sw1tcher]

Will be interesting to see where they price it, compared to the 13 MBA and 14 MBP.

14" MBP will be the better buy, IMO

Current pricing...

- 13" MBA with M2 8-core/8-core and 16GB / 512GB is $1599
- 13" MBA with M2 8-core/10-core and 16GB / 512GB is $1699
- Base 14" MBP with M2 Pro 10-core/16-core and 16GB / 512GB is $1999 but often goes on sale for $1799

No way a 15" MBA with M2 8-core/10-core and 16GB / 512GB will be less than $1799

 

[boak]

14" MBP will be the better buy, IMO

Current pricing...

- 13" MBA with M2 8-core/8-core and 16GB / 512GB is $1599
- 13" MBA with M2 8-core/10-core and 16GB / 512GB is $1699
- Base 14" MBP with M2 Pro 10-core/16-core and 16GB / 512GB is $1999 but often goes on sale for $1799

No way a 15" MBA with M2 8-core/10-core and 16GB / 512GB will be less than $1799

You can't compare retail price vs. sale price. The 15" MBA can go on sale too.

 

[bice]

I'd guess that most people won't care. Of those that do, most will wait for the M6 -- at that point their existing computer will be old enough that they'll give up one waiting for the thing that's just around the corner.

Exactly. My 2017 air will last until there is a new air with a card slot and a charge port. Just hoping it will happen before the M6

 

[The Cappy]

Makes perfect sense, but should one wait for the M3?

As always, that's up to you. But... the M-series chips are actually very powerful, even the M1. If you absolutely need more power and can wait a year, then wait. If you actually have a use for the thing, get it and be happy.