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New MacBook Air Models Coming Soon With These Rumored Features

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One of Apple's first product announcements of 2025 will likely be updated 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models with the M4 chip.

MacBook-Air-15-Inch-Feature-Purple.jpg

Below, we recap rumors about the next MacBook Air models.

New Features


Expected


The new MacBook Air models are expected to be equipped with Apple's already-released M4 chip, which has a 10-core CPU and a 10-core GPU.

Apple already updated the MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini with M4 chips a few months ago. Geekbench 6 results showed that the M4 chip is up to 25% faster than the M3 chip in terms of multi-core CPU performance, while the chip's power efficiency improvements should contribute to the MacBook Air getting longer battery life.

Apple recently increased the minimum RAM included in all MacBook Air models from 8GB to 16GB, so expect 16GB of RAM for base 2025 configurations.

Apple last redesigned the MacBook Air in 2022. No major external design changes have been rumored for the next MacBook Air models.

Likely


Following in the footsteps of the MacBook Pro, the next MacBook Air models will likely have an upgraded 12-megapixel camera with support for Center Stage, a feature that automatically keeps you centered on video as you move around. The camera will likely also support Desk View, which shows an overhead view of your desk.

Center Stage is available in video calling apps like FaceTime and Zoom. The feature was previously limited to newer iPad models and Macs connected to Apple's external Studio Display. The new MacBook Pro and iMac models were the first Macs to support Center Stage without needing to rely on a Studio Display.

The new MacBook Air models will likely be equipped with three Thunderbolt 4 ports, whereas the current models have two Thunderbolt 3 ports. The new models will likely support up to two external displays, even when the lid is open.

Possible


The latest MacBook Pro and iMac models can be configured with a nano-texture display, which has a special coating that better scatters light to further minimize glare on the screen. It is possible that Apple will extend this option to the new MacBook Air models, unless it opts to keep the option exclusive to the MacBook Pro among its laptops.

Timing


Last month, Apple released macOS Sequoia 15.2, and in doing so it accidentally confirmed new MacBook Air models are coming this year.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman recently said the new MacBook Air models will be announced "earlier" than some other devices rumored to launch this spring, such as a new iPhone SE. This likely means the new MacBook Air models will be announced in a press release on the Apple Newsroom website at some point from January through March, whereas the other devices might be announced at Apple's usual spring event in March or April. Apple would be getting the minor MacBook Air update out of the way early.

Article Link: New MacBook Air Models Coming Soon With These Rumored Features
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/01/02/what-to-expect-from-2025-macbook-air/
Hmm, I've been wanting to order a new MacBook Air for about a month now... Just holding out for the M4 update.

Umming and ahhing, whether to get a MBP 14" M4 Pro for home and hold on at work on my MBA M1 until the M4 drops. I don't really "need" the M4 Pro chip, but what does that have to do with anything? 😂
 
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WarmWinterHat said:
You left out a >25% price increase, in the US, because of the upcoming tarrifs.
Click to expand...
Trump won't be able to pull that off.
This is just talk. No such action can be taken, at least not on a lot of things.
If he does, it will serve companies outside of the USA, which defeats this idea of protectionism.
 
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2025, the year where Macs will finally have 16GB minimum RAM across the board. FINALLY. 🙌

edit: i’m dumb but still excited for these lmfao
 
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I am guessing early late Feb basically after Chinese New Year ( Late Jan ) and enough time for the Factory to be ready after that.
 
The new MacBook Air models will likely be equipped with three Thunderbolt 4 ports, whereas the current models have two Thunderbolt 3 ports.
Click to expand...
You mean two Thunderbolt 4 ports, not three. And MBA should but won’t get SD Card.
 
dmr727 said:
Right there with you. My M1 Air is still fantastic, but this may be when I finally succumb to FOMO - especially if they offer the nano texture (don't think it's likely, though).
Click to expand...
Mine is still going great, but with only 8GB RAM, running Windows 11 on ARM in Parallels is getting a bit tight...

I generally have Safari, Brave, Outlook, Teams, 1Password, Swyx (telephony), Microsoft Windows App (RDP), TeamViewer, Word, Excel, VSCode, OneNote and Terminal open and it copes admirably with that, but once Parallels fires up, or ELO (DMS system written in Java), it starts to creak.
 
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Big_D said:
I don't really "need" the M4 Pro chip, but what does that have to do with anything? 😂
Click to expand...
Exactly. Sometimes, maybe most of the time, the want trumps the need. With current systems the majority of the users could be well served with the stock configurations. I didn't need my M4 Pro, I just wanted it.

I also don't think the new M4 air will have three Thunderbolt ports and support two monitors. That would be infringing on the MacBook Pro line. In my opinion that would not be a good marketing choice. I suspect the only real change will be the update to the M4 processor.
 
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I've been on a M2 MacBook Air for 1-½ years and love the screen size. Doing more editing now and over the holidays picked up theM4 Pro MacBook Pro to replace it. Love the speed and other pro features but tempted to go to the 15" M4 MBA. Hmmmm.
 
I won’t mention my distain for the lack of promotion again.

However I will say it seems weird this is getting the base M4 chip almost a year after it debuted. Considering the pro/Max chips are already in the wild I’d have thought apple would put the M5 in this which surely can’t be far away?

To me it feels this refresh is a year late!
 
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macbookj0e said:
I won’t mention my distain for the lack of promotion again.

However I will say it seems weird this is getting the base M4 chip almost a year after it debuted. Considering the pro/Max chips are already in the wild I’d have thought apple would put the M5 in this which surely can’t be far away?

To me it feels this refresh is a year late!
Click to expand...
Apple should consider doing alternate year chip upgrades for its lineup.

2024 - M4/M4P/M4M - iPad Pro/MBP/iMac/MacMini

2025 - M5/M5P/M5M/M5U - MBA/MacStudio/MacPro

2026 - M4/M4P/M4M - iPad Pro/MBP/iMac/MacMini

2027 - M5/M5P/M5M/M5U - MBA/MacStudio/MacPro

Etc… Since these chips are upgraded annually and the performance between annually generations is marginal, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to annually upgrade every hardware line as there is little time for market appreciation and quick value depreciation.

Consider this as a customer why would I purchase a 2024 M4 MBP only to be replaced in 2025 with a M5 MBP. The amount lost on depreciation is a large loss in less than a year while great for new customers who may also consider a 2023 M3 chip.
 
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WarmWinterHat said:
You left out a >25% price increase, in the US, because of the upcoming tarrifs.
Click to expand...
Apple better these products out before Musk takes office.

At large, I feel like most businesses need to push out their Q1-Q2 products before inauguration day.

It's going to suck for everyone no matter what if the business eats the tariffs or pushes it onto the consumers.

But maybe having eggs, gas and all groceries magically drop down in price to before inflation levels once Biden is gone will have American consumers not caring so much about consumer electronics and everything else going up by some 25%?

The upcoming term is going to be a hu.. hugely interesting one. 👏😬
 
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code-m said:
Apple should consider doing alternate year chip upgrades for its lineup.

2024 - M4/M4P/M4M - iPad Pro/MBP/iMac/MacMini

2025 - M5/M5P/M5M/M5U - MBA/MacStudio/MacPro

2026 - M4/M4P/M4M - iPad Pro/MBP/iMac/MacMini

2027 - M5/M5P/M5M/M5U - MBA/MacStudio/MacPro

Etc… Since these chips are upgraded annually and the performance between annually generations is marginal, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to annually upgrade every hardware line as there is little time for market appreciation and quick value depreciation.

Consider this as a customer why would I purchase a 2024 M4 MBP only to be replaced in 2025 with a M5 MBP. The amount lost on depreciation is a large loss in less than a year while great for new customers who may also consider a 2023 M3 chip.
Click to expand...

Yes good points and your scheduling makes sense to me. Other than the assumed typo, corrected below?

“2024 - M4/M4P/M4M - iPad Pro/MBP/iMac/MacMini

2025 - M4/M4P/M4M/M4U - MBA/MacStudio/MacPro

2026 - M5/M5P/M5M - iPad Pro/MBP/iMac/MacMini

2027 - M5/M5P/M5M/M5U - MBA/MacStudio/MacPro”
 
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