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I am in a similar boat. I think both the extra $$$ for nano texture and limiting that option to the higher margin SKUs will be arguments in favor of Apple giving us that option. Like in the iMac. There are customers who are willing to pay a premium for the extra portability and if Apple doesn’t have to include the better screen, ports, speakers and fan and still charge a similar price then why not?

That's a good point. I also notice that the MBP deals eventually seen at Best Buy, B&H, etc never seem to include the nano-texture, which makes it more likely for me to just pull the trigger at launch instead of wait a few months. I'm sure Apple would prefer me to just pay full boat retail as soon as it's released. :)
 
That's a good point. I also notice that the MBP deals eventually seen at Best Buy, B&H, etc never seem to include the nano-texture, which makes it more likely for me to just pull the trigger at launch instead of wait a few months. I'm sure Apple would prefer me to just pay full boat retail as soon as it's released. :)

Right, your best bet is to use the education discount at Apple if you're eligible (*cough* they don't check or care *cough*).

AFAIK, Apple has only had the silver M4 iMac 16/256 with nano-texture briefly at Costco ($100 off) around Christmas eve, and at Micro Center (10% off). They now have it at Best Buy and Amazon. The nano-texture iPad Pros go on sale for $100 off sometimes at Best Buy and Amazon. But I haven't yet seen the nano-texture MBPs on sale, so when you consider that it's essentially a $300-$400 upgrade to get the nano-texture most people end up with the glossy version.

But I love the nano texture on my iPad Pro and hate glossy screens, so I will pony up lol!
 
I'm still deciding between a 14" M4 MBP and the soon-to-be-released 15" M4 MBA
If'n I was in your shoes I would go for the 14" M4 MBP. It already exists, is a known item with reviews. Better screen than the current AIR, better speakers, more ports, keys don't develop a shine. The MBA at this point is just a guess, based on an unreliable rumor mill. Headed by Gruman who wants clickbait and notoriety.
 
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That's what I'm hoping they do. I travel a lot, so the size/weight of the 13" Air is a significant advantage over a MBP. But if they only release an 8 core version with no option for the nano-texture, I might decide to step up to the MBP anyway. Of course, that's exactly the reason Apple would intentionally gimp the Air. :(
Apple "would intentionally gimp the Air" because the MBA is the low end. Low end means less good in every regard (lesser speakers, lesser display, less cores, less bandwidth, less RAM, etc.) therefore lower pricing.

Low end is a good thing as long as high end is also available. And low end has the one good feature of lighter weight to go with the lower price.
 
Ask Apple. Anyone else is just guessing. After all, this site has "rumors" it it's name. And much of the stuff is just that "rumors".
I was actually at an Apple Store tonight and asked them and they said they weren’t sure but were estimating early May. I hope that is wrong.
 
I'm thinking that if the M4 isn't released by early March, I'm just going with the M3. It's always "just around the corner."
True. And there are some great deals right now on M3s.

I'm deciding between a 14" M4 MBP and 15" M4 MBA. So I'm waiting to see them side-by-side (I have two Apple stores a short drive from me) before I make the leap.
 
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Low end is a good thing as long as high end is also available. And low end has the one good feature of lighter weight to go with the lower price.

The size/weight is why I'm hoping Apple has a configuration option for 10 cores. The MBP is a fine computer, but its weight makes it worse (for me) than an Air, so its availability doesn't do me any good. I have the same issue with the iPad Mini. I wish they'd offer higher end configurations because its size is exactly why I consider it be superior to the Pro offerings.

If you want to call it low end and high end, that's fine. The terminology doesn't matter - but it'll bum me out if Apple doesn't offer 10 cores for an extra couple hundred bucks on the MBA. And I don't see why they wouldn't offer the nano-texture - that's not a 'high end' feature. But I can absolutely see Apple doing nothing with the MBA other than dropping an 8 core M4 inside and calling it a day, and that's disappointing.
 
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I'm just noting here. Both the M2 Macbook Air 13" and M3 Macbook Air 15" have BTO dates stuck February 13-17th, (has been since the end of last week) and you can not pay to have them shipped faster.

M3 Macbook Air 13" has normal BTO shipping times February 11-13th, and you can pay to ship faster with a delivery time of February 10-12th.

Apple most likely will keep the standard M3 Macbook Air 13" and drop the price, so in-store stock will stay the same and production continue. The M3 15" and the M2 13" have probably ceased production and will be removed from stores when the M4 arrives.

I am thinking it will be a press release/website update on Monday, February 10th, and in-store on February 14th.
 

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I'm just noting here. Both the M2 Macbook Air 13" and M3 Macbook Air 15" have BTO dates stuck February 13-17th, (has been since the end of last week) and you can not pay to have them shipped faster.

M3 Macbook Air 13" has normal BTO shipping times February 11-13th, and you can pay to ship faster with a delivery time of February 10-12th.

Apple most likely will keep the standard M3 Macbook Air 13" and drop the price, so in-store stock will stay the same and production continue. The M3 15" and the M2 13" have probably ceased production and will be removed from stores when the M4 arrives.

I am thinking it will be a press release/website update on Monday, February 10th, and in-store on February 14th.
Did the same comparison on the Swedish Apple.se

M2 13": 13 Feb. - 17 Feb.
M3 13": 13 Feb. - 17 Feb.
M3 15": 18 Feb. - 20 Feb.

So no obvious sign of imminent release. :(
 
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