MacBook Air 2018

[Falhófnir]

I don’t know if it will be £949 probably more like starting at £999 or even £1,200 and that will probably be the starting price, my guess is there will probably be configurations such as being able to upgrade the Ram to 16GB possibly a core i7 processor option and so on. It will be very interesting to see what form factor this comes in as well, will it be the rumoured Air or a different form factor? Gurman says Air while Kuo says budget Mac but with Touch ID.

The rumours are a bit confusing, but seem to be broadly in two sets:

1. The MBA update - basically the air as is plus a basic retina screen, chip bump and possibly one or two other tweaks. Price about the same as Apple don’t want to forego the $999 price point altogether and the air is finally reaching the point of being untenable for sale
2. The 13/14 inch MacBook - literally a larger version of the existing MacBook, probably starting at more like $1,299

It certainly will be interesting to see which comes to fruition, with there being some pretty big names on each side of the rumour divide...

 

[Hey Mac]

Well, not a single rumor for the past 2 weeks.... everybody is focusing on the new phones.

I hope we're not gonna have to wait for 2019 to see a new entry-level laptop from Apple. I'd like to retire my 2009 macbook pro and replace it with some sort of retina macbook (air) that's not gonna cost me an arm and a leg.

13" would be fine, but please... more than one port.

 

[Falhófnir]

Well, not a single rumor for the past 2 weeks.... everybody is focusing on the new phones.

I hope we're not gonna have to wait for 2019 to see a new entry-level laptop from Apple. I'd like to retire my 2009 macbook pro and replace it with some sort of retina macbook (air) that's not gonna cost me an arm and a leg.

13" would be fine, but please... more than one port.

It’s almost certainly happening in a months time, when there’s this many corroborating rumours that something is happening it’s very unusual for them to all be wrong. The only spanner in the works would probably be if Apple had manufacturing issues and had to push the launch back, and if that were the case we would have long since had that leak out of the supply chain...

 

[TomOSeven]

I we aren't getting any news by November, I'm getting a T480s. My 2015 13" Retina is a fine device but I won't spend money replacing the battery at this point.

 

[Ma2k5]

It’s almost certainly happening in a months time, when there’s this many corroborating rumours that something is happening it’s very unusual for them to all be wrong. The only spanner in the works would probably be if Apple had manufacturing issues and had to push the launch back, and if that were the case we would have long since had that leak out of the supply chain...

Pretty much this, the only other unknown is how many chips are available - I mean I know the Window laptops have been announced but it isn't uncommon for these things to be pushed back if there is something wrong with the chips or if there is a very short supply, which could easily delay things into 2019. Saying that the Dell Inspiron lineup can be bought today with the Whiskeylake CPU's, so hopefully not...

 

[VR46]

Invites go out two weeks before an event - assuming there is an event of course so that rules out first half of October already sadly.
Surely they will want to give any new models a big push leading up to Christmas.

 

[Dave245]

Invites go out two weeks before an event - assuming there is an event of course so that rules out first half of October already sadly.
Surely they will want to give any new models a big push leading up to Christmas.

Not always, sometimes it’s a week before that the invites go out.

 

[Falhófnir]

Not always, sometimes it’s a week before that the invites go out.

Yep the 2016 MacBook Pro introductions had invites sent on 19 October before the event on the 27th. I wouldn’t be surprised to see quite similar timing for this event to give some space for the iPhone hype to run its course

 

[DHagan4755]

I would say invites would go out ahead of Google's event on Oct. 9th.

 

[VR46]

Ah that's good news about the 2016 invites. I only looked at 2018 and 2017 times.

With the Google event in ten days and new Surface devices expected to be announced 2nd October, Apple are leaving it late.

 

[Dave245]

Ah that's good news about the 2016 invites. I only looked at 2018 and 2017 times.

With the Google event in ten days and new Surface devices expected to be announced 2nd October, Apple are leaving it late.

My guess is the invites will go out next week for an event on either the 16th or 17th of this month. Microsoft announced some good updates, the Surface headphones look good for sure.

 

[jecowa]

I'm not so interested in a Retina display. I think the current 1440x900 resolution is great. Although it's not as detailed as the 2560x1600 display on the 13" MacBook Pro, it offers more screen real estate than the Retina display in "best for Retina mode" (ie simulating a 1280x800 screen).

Additionally, a Retina display will have higher graphical and power requirements to run it. I'm not sure the quality gained by those extra pixels are worth all that. If they change the TN panel to an IPS panel and keep the resolution the same, that would be a great improvement in my eye.

I'd also like them to keep scissor-switch keys and MagSafe. I'm neutral on replacing all the USB-A and HDMI ports with USB-C. It'd be nice to keep one old USB-A, though. It'd be kind of nice to keep that SD card slot, but not a big deal.

And this is mostly wishful thinking, but I'd really like LP-DDR4 SDRAM, ≤10 nm CPU, and this is probably impossible (overly expensive and overly-high thermal requirements) but on-package graphics (like Hades Canyon or similar).

 

[Ma2k5]

I'm not so interested in a Retina display. I think the current 1440x900 resolution is great. Although it's not as detailed as the 2560x1600 display on the 13" MacBook Pro, it offers more screen real estate than the Retina display in "best for Retina mode" (ie simulating a 1280x800 screen).

Additionally, a Retina display will have higher graphical and power requirements to run it. I'm not sure the quality gained by those extra pixels are worth all that. If they change the TN panel to an IPS panel and keep the resolution the same, that would be a great improvement in my eye.

I'd also like them to keep scissor-switch keys and MagSafe. I'm neutral on replacing all the USB-A and HDMI ports with USB-C. It'd be nice to keep one old USB-A, though. It'd be kind of nice to keep that SD card slot, but not a big deal.

And this is mostly wishful thinking, but I'd really like LP-DDR4 SDRAM, ≤10 nm CPU, and this is probably impossible (overly expensive and overly-high thermal requirements) but on-package graphics (like Hades Canyon or similar).

Well you don't have to use "best for retina mode" and just use a custom resolution yourself and have much better PPI. There is some more power requirement but there are 4K laptops with really good battery life, so I wouldn't worry about a 2560/1600 being too taxing on battery life.

 

[Falhófnir]

I'm not so interested in a Retina display. I think the current 1440x900 resolution is great. Although it's not as detailed as the 2560x1600 display on the 13" MacBook Pro, it offers more screen real estate than the Retina display in "best for Retina mode" (ie simulating a 1280x800 screen).

Additionally, a Retina display will have higher graphical and power requirements to run it. I'm not sure the quality gained by those extra pixels are worth all that. If they change the TN panel to an IPS panel and keep the resolution the same, that would be a great improvement in my eye.

I'd also like them to keep scissor-switch keys and MagSafe. I'm neutral on replacing all the USB-A and HDMI ports with USB-C. It'd be nice to keep one old USB-A, though. It'd be kind of nice to keep that SD card slot, but not a big deal.

And this is mostly wishful thinking, but I'd really like LP-DDR4 SDRAM, ≤10 nm CPU, and this is probably impossible (overly expensive and overly-high thermal requirements) but on-package graphics (like Hades Canyon or similar).

FWIW, the 2016- MacBook Pro’s ditched the integer scaling and now by default show 1440x900 (13”) and 1680x1050 (15”) despite the fact the panels are still 2560x1600 and 2880x1800. I know the 15” potentially has an issue running it’s scaled resolution whilst using UHD620 graphics, but the 12” MacBook seems to do fine running on HD615?

I agree on keeping the keyboard given all the issues they have had (doubt they will) and keeping SD and at least one USB A, it’s a nod to ease of use for what will probably be the go-to machine in Apple’s lineup for most people.

 

[mac_in_tosh]

My MB Pro is getting old so I would like to get an updated laptop. I don't need a "pro" machine as I now do my photo/video editing on a Windows desktop thanks to Apple's high prices and lack of dedication to Macs. I do want to continue having an Apple laptop as I like the OS and have some programs that are Mac only. I am awaiting their supposedly "low-cost" one, and I don't care about bezel size, thinness, color or material of case etc. But if the "low-cost" version again comes with 128 GB of storage, that just might be a deal breaker for me. It's simply ridiculous in 2018 and just screams greed.

 

[Think creative]

My guess is invites go out tomorrow or Thursday. Take some of the wind out of the google event sails, which is a smart move. I'm someone who's constantly deciding between a new chrome-book as my laptop (I have an iMac for my main computer) or a new MacBook air. I'll wait till both are announced before I decide anything.

 

[jfrancis04]

Sold my old MBA in preparation for this. Holding out hope that it keeps the old keyboard. All I've wanted for years in a laptop is the MBA with a retina display. Keep all the ports, magsafe, and keyboard the same.

If they do this, I'm there day 1. If not, I'm going for a Windows laptop instead.

 

[Ma2k5]

Sold my old MBA in preparation for this. Holding out hope that it keeps the old keyboard. All I've wanted for years in a laptop is the MBA with a retina display. Keep all the ports, magsafe, and keyboard the same.

If they do this, I'm there day 1. If not, I'm going for a Windows laptop instead.

I'd love the old keyboard, but as they will try make it as thin as possible to attract buyers, it's hard to believe they won't use the new keyboard.

 

[Vonjover]

I wonder if moving to usb-c will annoy the more general consumer market this product is aimed for. I think they should do what Microsoft did and retain at least a few legacy ports.

 

[Ma2k5]

I wonder if moving to usb-c will annoy the more general consumer market this product is aimed for. I think they should do what Microsoft did and retain at least a few legacy ports.

I guess most people probably don't need a USB-A as much as they think they do, provided they don't use a wired mouse/keyboard. It might be the occasional USB-A stick to transfer files, but they now come in USB-C flavours, or even a £5 adapter can sort that out. I think lack of all the different ports probably affects professional users rather than casual users.

 

[Vonjover]

I guess most people probably don't need a USB-A as much as they think they do, provided they don't use a wired mouse/keyboard. It might be the occasional USB-A stick to transfer files, but they now come in USB-C flavours, or even a £5 adapter can sort that out. I think lack of all the different ports probably affects professional users rather than casual users.

i did see a user here or on reddit say most students who use the MacBook air for school need usb-a for school. That could be one use case for consumers?

 

[Dave245]

If this Macbook Air update is genuinely going to be an Air update then i think that Apple will put in a retina display, thin the bezels out a bit and add the new butterfly keyboard. If they stick with the Air name then they will probably make it thinner as well which will be the justification for the butterfly keyboard. At this point some people will say that it will look like the 12" Macbook so what's the point? BUT they may keep the wedge Air design (as rumoured by Mark Gurman) but just thin it out a little, a 13" screen will also make it different from the 12" Macbook.

12" Macbook may stay at the same price while the 13" updated Air starts at around £999, if that's what Apple does i think they will have a winner on their hands, people love the Macbook Air, putting a retina display in while also updating other aspects and brining it into 2018 would make it a VERY good competitor for the consumer market as well as students.

 

[Ma2k5]

i did see a user here or on reddit say most students who use the MacBook air for school need usb-a for school. That could be one use case for consumers?

I used one during university and the only time I used one was to transfer files via a thumb drive, a scenario I covered in my previous post. With things being so much online and on the cloud, many students may not even need one now that I think about it - e.g. Microsoft OneDrive/GoogleDrive/iCloud for file storage, sharing and global access.

 

[jfrancis04]

I wonder if moving to usb-c will annoy the more general consumer market this product is aimed for. I think they should do what Microsoft did and retain at least a few legacy ports.

If they're aiming for the education market, they definitely need to keep some legacy ports.

I recently went to a conference at MIT that was primarily for teachers, librarians, community organizations, etc. Far and away, the laptop I saw more than any other? The Macbook Air. I saw more Macbook Airs than Windows laptops, MBPs, and iPads combined.

Apple would really be shooting themselves in the foot if they don't make this device friendly for educators and students.

 

[Vonjover]

If they're aiming for the education market, they definitely need to keep some legacy ports.

I recently went to a conference at MIT that was primarily for teachers, librarians, community organizations, etc. Far and away, the laptop I saw more than any other? The Macbook Air. I saw more Macbook Airs than Windows laptops, MBPs, and iPads combined.

Apple would really be shooting themselves in the foot if they don't make this device friendly for educators and students.

Yeah i reckon too. Im sure sending over air or via online storage is good now. But there really is some convenience to backwards compatibility. Plus, where i come from, usb-c isnt ubiquitous yet, and i dont think it will be for a while.