New MacBook Air Reportedly Set for Launch in Second Half of 2022

[MacRumors]

A new DigiTimes report today focused on notebook shipments briefly mentions that Apple plans to launch a new MacBook Air in the second half of 2022, which lines up with a timeframe shared by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman earlier this month.

The relevant excerpt from the report, which cites supply chain sources:

Apple's MacBook series are high-end consumer devices, but can also be regarded as a business notebook model as they are favored by many companies or office workers, the sources indicated, adding that hot sales of MacBook Pro released in late 2021 have lingered into the first quarter of 2022, with shipment volumes higher than expected, and new MacBook Air set for launch in the second half of the year is expected to add further sales momentum.

The new MacBook Air will feature a slightly larger 13.6-inch display versus the current 13.3-inch model, display industry consultant Ross Young said in a tweet last week.

While several sources have claimed the new MacBook Air will feature an M2 chip with an 8-core CPU and 9-core or 10-core GPU options, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects the notebook to have an M1 chip still, according to a list of predictions he tweeted in early March. In an email, Kuo told MacRumors that the new MacBook Air could have a modified M1 chip, and while he did not specify further, the rumored extra GPU cores are certainly possible.

Kuo's tweet said the new MacBook Air would also have an all-new design with additional color options, and enter mass production in the late second quarter or third quarter of 2022. Unlike the latest 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, Kuo does not expect the new MacBook Air to feature a mini-LED display, meaning ProMotion is unlikely.

Article Link: New MacBook Air Reportedly Set for Launch in Second Half of 2022

 

[skillwill]

This all looks good but if these rumours on how it'll look are true, Apple has to let the Air name go now. It wouldn't make sense any more, and it doesn't make sense on the iPad line either. IMO we should have MacBook and MacBook Pro, and iPad SE (current iPad), iPad (current iPad Air), and iPad Pro.

 

[Saladin12]

April Fool's?

 

[popdan]

nah, the majority of the new end users want at least 15 inch display

 

[CausticSoda]

I am waiting... to make a choice between that or quickly getting a maxed out M1 MacBook Air if the new thing looks like a child's toy with white bezels etc.

 

[Nautilus007]

Apple always gimps their products, very annoying.

GREAT NEW PRODUCT - always missing the pro feature

 

[Saladin12]

This all looks good but if these rumours on how it'll look are true, Apple has to let the Air name go now. It wouldn't make sense any more, and it doesn't make sense on the iPad line either. IMO we should have MacBook and MacBook Pro, and iPad SE (current iPad), iPad (current iPad Air), and iPad Pro.

I think the brand recognition of the Air is too strong for them to let it die - and we know how strong Apple is on marketing. If they drop the Air branding, they'll have to re-educate the public on what the new MacBook is there for...

But I want to say I don't disagree with you. And think the SE, no name, and Pro tags should be the way they move forward across their product lines (though can't ever see there being an SE laptop - unless the current Air gets rebranded as such).

 

[smythey]

Talk of a modified M1 chip is interesting. Not sure how plausible this is though; isn't one of the key advantages of the M series chips the economies of scale and the ability to put the same chip in many devices/computers?

Also - the existing M1 Air is a 2020 product; I think we should expect the introduction of the M2 this year.

 

[ZebedeeG]

This is the laptop I've been waiting or to replace my old (2014) Air...

I've been getting tempted by the base 14" Pro, but even the binned model has far more power than I need. But I do like the better display, webcam & speakers...

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Can’t wait to see the new colors Apple will offer for MacBook Air. Hopefully, they follow the iMac lineup.

 

[RedTheReader]

I am waiting... to make a choice between that or quickly getting a maxed out M1 MacBook Air if the new thing looks like a child's toy with white bezels etc.

Same, but from the opposite angle: I want those white bezels. They’re like whitewall tires: they add a bit of brightness, and respectfully, I’m tired of shades of silver.

 

[cwwilson]

Sooo... A new "M1X" or M1 "Plus" chip with a slightly larger screen which means the notch is a certainty.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

I hope it gets an HDMI port.

 

[ignatius345]

I am waiting... to make a choice between that or quickly getting a maxed out M1 MacBook Air if the new thing looks like a child's toy with white bezels etc.

OK, I've made this same post several times and this will be the last: white bezels do not look white when you're looking at the screen. Here's a photo of an M1 iMac in a normally lit room, screen around 2/3 brightness. I've turned the exposure up a bit, even, so the brightness of the mic and the bezel look how they look in the room. See how much brighter the screen is than the bezel? Does the bezel look glaringly white to you? No, it doesn't. (But I guess if you want to turn the screen off and fume about the white bezels against the black display, you still could do that.)

 

[krspkbl]

not interested unless they make a 15 or even 16" option.

 

[Rodney Dangerfield]

nah, the majority of the new end users want at least 15 inch display

Agree...Not only 15 inch display but also additional colours other than silver or space grey!

 

[Bow Commander]

15" option or bust.

 

[azentropy]

OK, I've made this same post several times and this will be the last: white bezels do not look white when you're looking at the screen. Here's a photo of an M1 iMac in a normally lit room, screen around 2/3 brightness. I've turned the exposure up a bit, even, so the brightness of the mic and the bezel look how they look in the room. See how much brighter the screen is than the bezel? Does the bezel look glaringly white to you? No, it doesn't. (But I guess if you want to turn the screen off and fume about the white bezels against the black display, you still could do that.)

View attachment 1984757

Yep, it looks yellow which is even worse.

 

[Caliber26]

It would be disappointing to still get the M1 chip two years after later on a completely redesigned model. I'm still holding hope for the M2.

 

[Saturn1217]

Please have support for more than one external display. This is the biggest downside of the new chips IMO. Such a regression from intel.

 

[Bustycat]

This all looks good but if these rumours on how it'll look are true, Apple has to let the Air name go now. It wouldn't make sense any more, and it doesn't make sense on the iPad line either. IMO we should have MacBook and MacBook Pro, and iPad SE (current iPad), iPad (current iPad Air), and iPad Pro.

“MacBook” is a cursed name. Most of products labelled simply “MacBook” were plagued with significant issues.

 

[dominiongamma]

Sooo... A new "M1X" or M1 "Plus" chip with a slightly larger screen which means the notch is a certainty.

Glad I got my m1, without the notch, I bought it before the new air comes out and I knew the notch was an awful design choice on a MacBook Air

 

[Gusjasso]

What about an updated 24” iMac?

 

[dominiongamma]

I am waiting... to make a choice between that or quickly getting a maxed out M1 MacBook Air if the new thing looks like a child's toy with white bezels etc.

I got my m1 2 months ago, totally worth it, the new MacBook Air looks likes based on the rumors a step backwards with the notch, I don't mind it on a phone but a MacBook is a no. And the color choices do look like a childs toy.

 

[svish]

Excited for the new MacBook Air. Hopefully it will come in some nice colours.