New MacBook Airs and iPads, iOS 17.4, and More Expected Next Month

[EugW]

I don’t see a landscape orientation camera coming.

Apple will want to keep costs down by continuing with the same chassis and simply replace display and chips.

It likely would not be that simple considering OLED is a completely different screen technology, so in that context it would make more sense to do a redesign. It doesn't have to be a huge redesign, but it would be a redesign nonetheless. Furthermore, the non-Pro non-Air iPad already has a landscape camera, with magnetic Apple Pencil (USB-C) support too, so it would be very strange for that machine to have it while the flagship Pro machine does not. Plus, the current design is already in its 6th year so it's due for an update.

Personally, I think there is about a 95% chance that when the iPad Pro goes OLED, it will have a new form factor with landscape camera. And with that, we'd get new keyboards as well.

 

[makitango]

It likely would not be that simple considering OLED is a completely different screen technology, so in that context it would make more sense to do a redesign. It doesn't have to be a huge redesign, but it would be a redesign nonetheless. Furthermore, the non-Pro non-Air iPad already has a landscape camera, with magnetic Apple Pencil (USB-C) support too, so it would be very strange for that machine to have it while the flagship Pro machine does not. Plus, the current design is already in its 6th year so it's due for an update.

Personally, I think there is about a 95% chance that when the iPad Pro goes OLED, it will have a new form factor with landscape camera. And with that, we'd get new keyboards as well.

I would also agree on the OLED redesign part. They will likely slim down the bezels, just like on the iPhone lineup with the Pros, and grant more momentum, which will further set the Pros apart from the Air and below.

 

[CalMin]

Couldnt agree more. My battery isnt amazing these days but it is fine. I’m more concerned about pricing here in Europe. Any more than it currently is and I’m out. £1,300/€1,500+ for the base 12.9in is a joke.

Apple's pricing is always 'a bit more than you wanted to pay'. At least that's how I feel about it. I still buy it. 😬

 

[Chuckeee]

My guess is the M3 MBA base will come with 12GB Ram (2X6).

No way a base M3 MBA will have more RAM than the base M3 MBP

 

[Gengar]

Let’s hope for a refreshed iPad mini.

 

[Thomas Davie]

Got the money ready for the 12.9 iPad Air, which will be replacing my 12.9 3rd gen iPad Pro which has been sporting a hairline crack since the day after I bought it in 2018

Tom

edit: I was doing home dialysis and my computer desk with AIO laser printer was on my right hand side. I placed the iPad Pro on the computer desk with ~1/4 of it overhanging the edge of the table - connected the dialysis tubing and went to grab my IPP - Oops!. Still functional, but about 3 weeks ago during hospital dialysis I dropped the Apple Pencil 2 right on it’s nib, and it’s not quite so functional any more. Sister doesn’t want the IPP even if I get the screen replaced and a new pencil; so when I buy the new iPad Air, I can get the IPP fixed and donate it somewhere.

 

[andiwm2003]

A surprise 11”or 12” MBA M3 would be an instant buy for both me and my wife, this form factor was the best!

I’d love to see a iPad Pro that runs a full ios when a keypad is attached. Essentially a 11”MBA and similar to the MS surface pro.

 

[picpicmac]

but NOT at 3X-5X market rates for RAM & SSD storage

And why should spot prices dictate what a systems integrator charge the final customer?

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

To motivate select customers to buy their hardware instead of opting for a PC laptop instead.

"Systems integrator" can do & charge whatever they want, but if they want my money, I expect more competitive pricing on commodity items like RAM & SSD. I've generally paid "the premium" in the past, but as it increasingly fattens, I'm less willing to pay too much for "nothing (particularly) special" commodities like RAM & SSD.

 

[Abazigal]

To motivate select customers to buy their hardware instead of opting for a PC laptop instead.

"Systems integrator" can do & charge whatever they want, but if they want my money, I expect more competitive pricing on commodity items like RAM & SSD. I've generally paid "the premium" in the past, but as it increasingly fattens, I'm less willing to pay too much for "nothing (particularly) special" commodities like RAM & SSD.

I don't really see much of an overlap between an iPad and laptop. Usually, someone who buys an iPad Pro has very specific needs and is very clear of why they want a pro iPad, and if they genuinely need the extra space (eg: they plan to do video editing on it with Final Cut Pro), they will just pay and get it over and done with.

 

[Alp3r]

If they do product red for the pro models me and another two people that I know will buy it straight away!

 

[Allen_Wentz]

Would love to give a loaded Air a try... but NOT at 3X-5X market rates for RAM & SSD storage. I'd already own M2 Air if not for the same...

View attachment 2348695

And that's upgrades purchased in massive quantities vs. retail quantity one (and NOT cheapest retail options, but simply comparable options. Focus a little harder on price and $252 drops below $200).

I'm clinging to an aging Intel MBpro that is begging to be retired... but not at Apple RAM & SSD exploitive pricing. If they opt to BEND on that though (AKA throw a bone to customers vs. shareholders for a change), I'll be first in line. Else, the march towards buying a PC laptop as my next one continues gaining steam. I'd rather not, but not bad enough to farrrrrrrr overpay for RAM & SSD.

C'mon you know better. UMA RAM on-chip cannot be directly compared to plug-in RAM modules physically miles farther away and architecturally in a different galaxy.

 

[MacGekko]

My guess is the M3 MBA base will come with 12GB Ram (2X6).

Waiting on an M3 15" air with at least 16gb ram, what do you think the price will be?

 

[tomekwsrod]

Waiting on an M3 15" air with at least 16gb ram, what do you think the price will be?

500 USD.

 

[Jim Lahey]

I'd settle for a MacBook product strategy where the purchasing experience isn't a depressing chore of weighing up compromises between color, specs, and feeling ripped off and manipulated. For the first time ever in my recollection, buying a new Mac is plain hard work.

 

[SpanishAppleNerd]

I am interested in the prices. 12.9 Air vs 10.9 pro

 

[EugW]

I don't really see much of an overlap between an iPad and laptop. Usually, someone who buys an iPad Pro has very specific needs and is very clear of why they want a pro iPad, and if they genuinely need the extra space (eg: they plan to do video editing on it with Final Cut Pro), they will just pay and get it over and done with.

FWIW, I’m strongly considering the iPad Pro just because of OLED. I definitely don’t need it though. My needs could be satisfied by a regular iPad.

 

[ht5pilot]

Would be really tempted to get a new iPad Pro with OLED since I watch a lot of movies and tv shows, but my 2018 iPad Pro 12.9” is still rocking with no slow down.

 

[Shaggymax]

Jumped on MBA M1 13" upon release. I ponied up for 16GB Ram & 2 TB storage. Has been really a flawless machine. The only only only thing limiting for my use-case is the screen size...this might be the update cycle to jump on a similarly spec'd 15 MBA for the next few years....fingers crossed

 

[svish]

Looking forward to seeing the new OLED iPads. Waiting to see whether the new MacBook Air will be released in a new colour.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I would love to get a 15” if it would support 4k displays running at 120hz or more. With the new 32” OLED monitors coming out with 240Hz support, that would be really important for me. I don’t want to have to get a thick MacBook Pro for that. Might have to end up getting a Mac Mini for the ultimate display support…

Which one are you going to get?
(of the 32" 4k 120hz+ OLEDs I mean)

 

[turbineseaplane]

I'd settle for a MacBook product strategy where the purchasing experience isn't a depressing chore of weighing up compromises between color, specs, and feeling ripped off and manipulated. For the first time ever in my recollection, buying a new Mac is plain hard work.

Hard work -- and as you said, at the end of it you have to accept getting ripped off

Lovely experience...but hey..."stock price"..."shareholders"..
amirite?

/s

 

[Allen_Wentz]

Waiting on an M3 15" air with at least 16gb ram, what do you think the price will be?

Probably the same as current list price today for an M2 MBA of identical configuration.

 

[Jim Lahey]

Hard work -- and as you said, at the end of it you have to accept getting ripped off

Lovely experience...but hey..."stock price"..."shareholders"..
amirite?

/s

Worst thing, for me, is that you can no longer buy the MacBook Pro in Space Gray unless you choose the gimped (8GB) MacBook Air in drag they call a MacBook Pro.

Restricting Space Black from the non-Pro Pro I could forgive, but literally deleting the most ubiquitous Pro colour from the Pro Pro is absolutely the most ridiculous decision they ever made.

I refuse to buy a computer that will be plastered in chips and scratches inside a year, and I don’t like silver. This means they now no longer sell a single MacBook I could buy. Unbelievable.

 

[leftyMac]

I WANT the M3 MBA, but I have a M1 Pro MBP, so I don't really NEED it.

If it were 12" MBA even with M1, I'd buy it for sure though.