Next MacBook Air to Feature Off-White Bezels and Keyboard, M2 Chip, USB-C Ports Only, MagSafe, and iMac-Like Colors

[Lucas Curious]

Honestly, it looks good. I'd probably buy one for myself, if my wife wouldn't murder me in my sleep for buying a blue one instead of pink

So I'll buy a pink one on launch day for her, and take her M1 air.

And really, I don't think my situation is the minority. I agree, this thing is gonna sell like hot cakes.

reading these forums discourages me from ever getting married.

 

[javisan]

If this is true then it will be a Mac mini for me and a PC laptop when I need to be mobile.

I will not buy for a laptop with a stupid notch, especially a white one. Not joking, I’d rather NOT have a webcam.

I will not reward Apple with my money with these stupid design decisions.

 

[navaira]

A name change could also potentially be in the works, with Apple allegedly considering just "MacBook."

I have predicted this approx. 82 times by now. If they go with "MacBook" I demand my username to be changed to "Mostly Reliable Analyst Navaira."

 

[utsava]

So white bezels AND a notch?

I’m interested to see anyone defend the notch now like they have been doing the past few days. How the heck are you supposed to ‘hide’ it via software? You can’t exactly black it out can you.

The notch is the worst design decision Apple has ever made since it interferes with software. I’m baffled as to why people go out of their way with their mental gymnastics to outright defend it.

Certainly with true tone they can easily match the white and place a white bar across when desired. Just like with black. Not really sure what the big deal is. I’m not saying a notch is ideal, but people are making a mountain out of a molehill.

 

[Zdigital2015]

Why is Apple so obsessed with thinking that only "pros" like black color? I don't want MacBook Pro for my needs. I want MacBook Air but I don't want white bezels with a gigantic notch on my laptop. Seriously, I don't want something that looks like a toy for kids.

That sounds more like your issue than Apple’s. I’m sure you’ll be able to get that boring ass silver version as well as the different colors.

 

[Zdigital2015]

But surely actually Thunderbolt 4 ports, right? And not just USB? (The "only" here is a bit confusing: whether it means just "no additional ports" or "only this capability on the port," but I'm assuming the former.) Thunderbolt/USB-C isn't a problem for me, but if the ports themselves are only USB, it might be...


That was actually mentioned as a possibility in the linked leak/discussion. ?

Yes, I would expect two Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 ports and a mic/speaker jack.

 

[MedRed]

what's old is new again...

 

[aevan]

For all the people posting negatives about the "white" bezels, I wonder how many have used the new iMac? I was reluctant when I first heard of the design change, but I find it much easier on the eyes than the big black bezels of my former iMac 27. First off, the bezels are a "soft" off-white, not "polar" white or anything bright like that. If you face a light-colored wall, the bezels tend to blend into the background and disappear. I always felt like I was looking at a picture in a frame with the black bezels. I guess if you want your screen clearly outlined by a border, then black is better. If you want your screen to blend into the background, then off-white is better (unless, of course, you always work against a dark background).

iMacs look great, people here like to complain dramatically.

The new MacBook will look nice.

 

[James Godfrey]

The iMac’s look bad with the white frame (IMO). They take focus away from the screen. Seems like a design choice just ‘to be/try to be different’, or as others have said an updated design language to separate Pro, but not all Pro’s need high end Pro machines. Why cannibalize that market.. especially with no option to choose black.

I see them in the Apple store and think ‘that’s a terrible design decision for such an important (and profitable) product’.

Just get rid of the bezel. Thin black. Notch until under display is a thing.

In my opinion, in my local computer shop, they have both the new iMac and the old iMac on display… and the new one just looks so fresh and clean and the old one just looks extremely dated and the same old same old.

I hated the white bezel design initially but as time has gone on it has warmed on me quite a bit, it looks clean and nice in any location in the home which is what the target market is for… casual home users.

I think a MBA with a similar design language would be a big seller in all honesty.

 

[jdoyle]

What's worse than a black notch you can hide with a strip of unused display? A cream coloured notch that sticks out like a sore thumb. My eye would be constantly drawn to it. How some they can fit Face ID, Camera etc into bezel of a iPad Pro but these new laptops need to have a notch?

 

[JtheLemur]

I’m here for any industrial design more interesting than the decade-old bathtub-lookin’ booty of the new MBPros -___-

 

[MrPresident]

I bought one of the 24” iMacs earlier this year because I wanted to replace my 2013 model. I didn’t think the white bezel would change the way I thought about the computer. Having used the computer for some time now, I’ve realised it is one of the machines less appealing aspects. It’s slightly off putting, the computers screen doesn’t seem to blend with its background. It also looks cheap, which is a shame given that this is £1,200 computer.

I like the consistency of the designs between the models but really hope this coloured bezel phase doesn’t last.

 

[Artsketch]

Ugly if true

 

[BreakYurAnkles]

what's old is new again...

yeah. MBP it is. gotta hide that notch. even this older version i cant help but look at that black webcam. I can only imagine how much more distracting a white notch would be.

 

[jozero]

The new iMacs from the back with the deep solid colours look amazing. The white bezel completely fades away with actual use. What I can't stand is the weird weak pastel colours of the new iMac. It personally made me get a grey one. The orange one with its salmon pink front is almost the same as the red pink one - I have no issue with pink, just why are they so close?

So I am looking forward to the new MacBook Air, but I really hope they rethink the pastel colours. By far the weakest part of the design IMO

 

[Marty80]

I actually prefer the MacBook Air design better then the iMacs multicoloured front. However I am not sure about the white notch it might grow on me.

 

[Ubele]

So you love the new MacBook Pros, and you lust for one, but they're overkill for your needs. The forthcoming MacBook (the name makes sense) looks like it will do everything you need, at a price you can afford. (This is my situation.) But you wouldn't buy one for no other reason than if the bezels are white? My wife and I both had white MacBooks back in the day, and we loved them. But to each their own...

 

[PrimeGen]

The next-generation MacBook Air will have several features that are adopted from the upcoming MacBook Pro models, according to leaker Dylandkt, who has a track record of providing accurate details about Apple's plans.

Upcoming MacBook Air models will have a design that's "quite similar" to the new MacBook Pros, but with a thinner body, off-white bezels, and no wedge shape. It will come in color options that are similar to the 24-inch iMac, which we've heard rumored before. According to the leaker, the keyboard will be the same off-white shade as the bezels, and it will feature full-size function keys and a 1080p webcam.

The machine will have no SD card slot or HDMI port, which, along with the design, will distinguish it from the MacBook Pro models. The MacBook Air will use a next-generation M2 chip, a followup to the M1. It is not expected to be as powerful as the M1 Pro and M1 Max as it will be aimed at lower-power devices.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1451273740722098177

Prior rumors have indicated that the M2 chip will have the same number of computing cores (eight) but nine or 10 graphics cores instead of seven or eight. Apple is said to be designing a 30W power adapter for the new machine, and it is said to have no fans inside, much like the current M1 MacBook Air.

Other leaks have suggested that the new MacBook will include a notch at the front like the MacBook Pro, which perhaps makes sense if it's going to have a 1080p webcam and MacBook Pro-style design. At the same time, it would be an unusual design choice with white bezels. The MacBook Air may include a mini-LED display, but Dylandkt says that ProMotion technology will not be included. A name change could also potentially be in the works, with Apple allegedly considering just "MacBook."

Rumors suggest the next-generation MacBook Air will be released in mid to late 2022.

Article Link: Next MacBook Air to Feature Off-White Bezels and Keyboard, M2 Chip, USB-C Ports Only, MagSafe, and iMac-Like Colors

Can haz purpur one, tho?

 

[Surf760]

These are going to sell like hot cakes.

After working 7 years behind the Genius Bar, I can assure you regular consumers (who are your typical MacBook Air customers) don't care one iota about white bezels/keys... they care about having a pink/orange/blue/green computer.

Expect a notch too. Yet another thing regular consumers don't give a sh*t about.

Waiting on my 16" M1 Max to move on from this 2018 13".

My wife who is starting to get to the point where she needs a new computer (2016 Yoga) asked if I should just hand it down to her. In light of the ARM change, and the fact that I know that she'd go nuts for a macbook air that looks like that green render, I just told her to hang tight for a while.

My wife does internet, office, and photos, as you indicated, people like her care less about the white bezel, they just want green, or blue, or whatever color they like.

 

[Surf760]

Its not a masculinity thing, its personal preference. I'd prefer to not have colors that draw attention to myself and just go about my day.

There's a reason construction workers wear NEON colors for their jobs....

I hear you, but isn't that why they still offer a silver iMac model? I've had this same conflict in supplying my office staff with new iMacs in the near future. My business colors are shades of blue so I'll probably go with that, but because it's a law firm, I've considered silver... we have that option.

 

[madebybela]

I was down for the white bezels because I loved the old polycarbonate MacBooks, BUT THE NOTCH THOUGH AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

 

[Biro]

Another thought for those considering a 2020 M1 MacBook Pro instead of opting for the refreshed MacBook Air next year: You probably should grab one before too long. I doubt Apple will continue to offer the 13-inch MB Pro next to the 14-inch model after a slightly more powerful MB Air comes out.

 

[iSayuSay]

And I’m sure this M2 chip will somehow exceed M1 Pro performance, maybe almost as fast as M1 Max. Dwarfing the $1999 14” MBP

That all came in a mere $1299 package? So yeah I’m not in a hype buying the brand new M1 Max MBP.

 

[airbatross]

We had white bezels on iPhones to iPads for more than a decade.. I seriously don't understand the hatred towards this.. It looks very fun and sweet.. I loved my 2010 white macbook, I used it for 8 years with upgrades along the way.. I'll definitely consider once my current Air wears out..

 

[BreakYurAnkles]

I hear you, but isn't that why they still offer a silver iMac model? I've had this same conflict in supplying my office staff with new iMacs in the near future. My business colors are shades of blue so I'll probably go with that, but because it's a law firm, I've considered silver... we have that option.

Yes, and I have taken that into consideration (and would buy it if it came with black bezels and keys).

The white bezels and keyboard are the one thing I can't quite get my head around.

The only reason the other users were going back-and-fourth with me was because of the "more likely female" mention another user used (as an example). I defended his post (slightly) and I also pointed out that kids would love the new colors. They took offense to it.

They also said they prefer colors (which I have no problem with) but for some reason they think i'm against the colors (which I am not). Or think I am inferring they are like children (which isn't the case).

I honestly just care about the bezels and keyboard. I wouldn't care too much about the color since I'd put a skin on it or a protective case anyways...