Kuo: 2022 MacBook Air to Feature M1 Chip, More Color Options and All-New Design

[Veinticinco]

You obviously didn't have the 12". Best notebook Apple ever made.

I had it, 2015 launch day 1 unit.

Best notebook Apple ever made? ?.

Yes, looked great but in my ownership experience of less than a year, proved to be an underpowered, thermally crippled POS that fried its logic board (almost causing a domestic fire) during a scheduled backup. Oh and unlike the 2016 MBPs, no bypass access to the soldered SSD so even corporate data recovery couldn’t find a workaround until 2020.

As for these new MBAs, I’ll gladly swerve this gimmicky and hopefully transient next gen with their predicted ugly camera notches and fad-screaming iBook colours and stick with my trusty maxed out sleek space grey 2020 M1.

 

[cwwilson]

I had it, 2015 launch day 1 unit.

Best notebook Apple ever made? ?.

Yes, looked great but in my ownership experience of less than a year, proved to be an underpowered, thermally crippled POS that fried its logic board (almost causing a domestic fire) during a scheduled backup. Oh and unlike the 2016 MBPs, no bypass access to the soldered SSD so even corporate data recovery couldn’t find a workaround until 2020.

As for these new MBAs, I’ll gladly swerve this gimmicky and hopefully transient next gen with their predicted ugly camera notches and fad-screaming iBook colours and stick with my trusty maxed out sleek space grey 2020 M1.

There is still a 2015 12" Retina MacBook base model being used in my household that I bought not long after launch and while I loved it for what it was back in the day it is FAR from being the 'best notebook ever'. It has a very wimpy 1.1GHz dual core CPU, a very flat keyboard, only one USB port and the battery life was never all that great and to even try to compare it to the M1 Air I'm typing this on is a total joke. I can literally get like 20 hours on a single charge with my M1 MBA. The trackpad is way better, the keyboard is a massive step up, the screen is much nicer and the speed and pure power of the Apple M1 is lightyears ahead of the Intel 'Core m1' of 12" MB. I mean it's not even a fair comparison tbh.

 

[jlc1978]

Gotta milk the M1 as much as they can.

Of course. They need to amortize development costs over as many units as possible.

Maybe M2 would be premature, but it would be more of an incentive to upgrade if they created a new M1 chip for the Air.

I'm guessing Apple looks at the data for what drives upgrading and uses that to help determine roadmaps. Plus, a longer cycle allows them to incorporate more new features and by pushing what was only in the higher end models down the chain as the tech becomes cheaper to make and newer stuff appears in the high end.

Still, this version is more than adequate enough and it’s impressive if they’re able to continue using a first-generation chip for multiple product generations. That demonstrates there are no apparent flaws with the M1, which is great.

It certainly has the legs to last a while; especially in a low end machine where most users will not push its performance envelope.

As for these new MBAs, I’ll gladly swerve this gimmicky and hopefully transient next gen with their predicted ugly camera notches

I think Apple should have an option to keep the menu bar below the notch and black out the areas next to it for all apps, not just by app. That way, if you dislike the notch it goes away and you have the same screen size as in older models.

and fad-screaming iBook colours and stick with my trusty maxed out sleek space grey 2020 M1.

Apple seems to swing between monochrome and color on a regular basis since the original iMacs. As long as they have a gray or silver option having colors as well is just a bonus for someone who wants one; plus you can color coordinate your Mac with your outfit.

 

[wood1208]

MAC laptop family is well covered with size,price and performance consisting of Macbook Air, Macbook,Macbook Pros.

 

[Sam.b1]

Why can't Apple make a 15 inch MacBook Air? That would be the ideal laptop for so many. 13 inches is way too small for a lot of people if it's their only computer and not everyone can take advantage of the power of M1 Pro/Max, not to mention the price difference.

 

[boston04and07]

Why can't Apple make a 15 inch MacBook Air? That would be the ideal laptop for so many. 13 inches is way too small for a lot of people if it's their only computer and not everyone can take advantage of the power of M1 Pro/Max, not to mention the price difference.

Totally agree. I bought a 15” MacBook Pro years ago for the screen but just couldn’t justify doing that again when it came time to upgrade. All I do is read long documents and use word processing and spreadsheets - things that can easily be done with the processing power of an iPad but are so much nicer on a larger screen. I would absolutely love a 15” Air.

 

[Shanpdx]

Why can't Apple make a 15 inch MacBook Air? That would be the ideal laptop for so many. 13 inches is way too small for a lot of people if it's their only computer and not everyone can take advantage of the power of M1 Pro/Max, not to mention the price difference.

Profits and they are sticking to their theory like 4" iPhone...

not having larger laptop is the one strategy they are doing for very long time...

not doing good for the large percentage of people.

 

[jlc1978]

Why can't Apple make a 15 inch MacBook Air? That would be the ideal laptop for so many. 13 inches is way too small for a lot of people if it's their only computer and not everyone can take advantage of the power of M1 Pro/Max, not to mention the price difference.

I can think of several reasons not to make one:

1. It would cut into sales of the MBP and reduce revenue.
2. The MBA is targeted at people who want portability so the form factor is designed to do that; 15" would not differentiate it enough as a small portable
3. An external monitor provides a larger screen for when it is used in an home or office setting; so unless you use it a lot while outside of a home or office setting a larger screen is of little advantage
4. Some who needs the screen space is also is likely to want more ports, etc., further blurring the line between the MBA and MBP
5. Price point. The MBA is Apple's price leader to capture the sub-1000 market, a 15" would be out of that range

Apple has pretty much stuck to Jobs 4 quadrant model and not blurred the boundaries.

 

[dgdosen]

Maybe they're bringing back the super-slim 'Macbook" - with an M1. You could call it an "iPad Pro Killer".

 

[kenaustus]

IIFC the MBA received the M1 in the initial release, as did the iMac. It seem logical that if the MBA is to receive the M2 as the initial offering then the iMac should be moving right along with it. If the MBA doesn't receive the M2 at it's shift to the new design then I would wonder if Apple was not satisfied with the M2 and wanted more time to work on it.

 

[Tagbert]

If they put a M2 chip in MacBook Air they would have the average consumer thinking that all of the M1 chips are automatically outdated.

That would not be a problem. If the average consumer choses an M2 Air over an M1 Pro/Max MBP based on the name alone, then they probably don't need the power of the Pro/Max and would be better served by the M2 anyway. Also, they are probably going to choose the cheaper option.