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

[RMo]

USB-C Ports Only

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...

Time to drop the "air" name also. Makes no sense with the current lineup.

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

 

[polyphenol]

Off light meaning starlight color? I’m glad Apple is introducing and exploring new colors.

Happy for them to try out other colours. Starlight is horrible and an exception - most of the colours they use are nicer in reality than in pictures, even when not to my taste.

 

[uuaschbaer]

I love the white bezels and colours and I don't care what you guys say

 

[uiop.]

Time to drop the "air" name also. Makes no sense with the current lineup.

Agree. There isn't even a "MacBook" on sale anymore. Their current naming convention doesn't make much sense.

 

[Reason077]

If they make a white MBA, I'm getting a low-end MBP

... and Apple's strategy is a success!

 

[imcesarleyva]

Seems like they're really trying to differentiate their pro products from their regular consumer products with these changes. Just like they did with the iPhone line up.

 

[Leon Ze Professional]

If Apple removes the wedge shape design. Then I'm almost certain they will drop the "Air" nomenclature from this line of products. Which makes me a little sad .

 

[Teledatageek]

Wonder if the M2 will support two external monitors....

 

[Nismo73]

Next big ipad Pro will basically be the new “Air”

 

[Juuro]

I love small and light notebooks, I even programmed my diploma thesis on a 11" MacBook Air. I would love to have a Mac in such a small case again. But I already ordered a MacBook Pro 14" wich is not really the definition of light and small. But I think I would miss the SD card reader and the ProMotion display on an Air. But who knows, if I end up not appreciating those features as much as I think now I might switch to a nice light and red 12" MacBook next summer. ?

If it does have Mini-LED, then there's a big chance it will have Pro-Motion? I hope so.

Why bother with Mini-LED if you don't offer Pro Motion!

Mini LED and ProMotion have (almost) nothing to do with each other. Mini LED is just the lighting behind the actual LCD. So to have ProMotion it isn't enough to put Mini LED lighting behind the LCD you still have to refresh the LCD more often. And that requires a different LCD which itself requires more power. The more power requirement might be a problem for the MacBook (Air) because it will for sure have a pretty small batter compared to an MacBook Pro.

 

[BreakYurAnkles]

I think I know better than you what I want and what I need.
In this case I want and need both a powerful system AND color options. Try to understand that not all people think the same way.

In this case, Apple is giving you neither...

Try to understand that companies don't think like all people.

 

[macdisciple]

White bezels are terrible. No way Apple put both a notch and white bezels in the next MBA

That's opinion and cannot be expressed as good/bad. I love them. You hate them. Those are good statements. These are average joe consumer machines anyway. My iMac sits beautifully in my home. I love the way oit presents itself and the white bezels are part of that aesthetic.

 

[warriors2017]

Somewhere up in designer heaven, Jony Ive is laughing his arse off in an Essex accent. "A white notch! What on earth are they thinking! Ha ha ha!"

You're making it sound like he's already dead ?

 

[tipoo]

I imagine with Mini LED it'll sit above the current Air price wise, not replacing it? Maybe replacing the 13" Pro which is a bit of an oddball now instead.

 

[BreakYurAnkles]

First Apple makes a throwback to the 4S, now the 2010 MacBook. As a user of both, I love it! My old devices are cool again

Seriously though, why the white bezel hate? Hiding the notch doesn't change anything, it's still there and you'll forget about it quickly either way. And colored bezels would be weird next to your on-screen content.

I think we're long overdue for more playful designs again now that every company is selling grey slabs.

(And come on, colors aren't "childish" or "feminine", that's plain silly. If your masculinity depends on a black computer, buy a skin or an MBP, lol.)

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....

 

[warriors2017]

I imagine with Mini LED it'll sit above the current Air price wise, not replacing it? Maybe replacing the 13" Pro which is a bit of an oddball now instead.

Makes sense. Would be even better if it came with 14" Mini LED ?

 

[ls1dreams]

There's no chance they'd move the screen to 14" right?

My mom needs a cheap laptop but 13" is just so small. The 14/16" models starting at $2000 are just totally overkill for her with all that performance.

I just want an affordable 14-15" model for around $1000-$1200 with M1 like stuff and a bit more storage for photos.

 

[happyslayer]

My only worry will be the white keys. I work on a lot of Macs in my job and the white desktop keyboards get hella-dirty. Also, the old white plastic MacBook got very dirty as well. The little OCD monster inside my head would hate this. ? The white bezels I think look kind of nice. Though I also like the new 24" iMacs.

 

[MacRealist91]

Well, if the rumors are remotely true, I'm quite happy with my new M1 Air 16GB 1TB SSD I picked up this month. Not crazy about the new designs honestly.

 

[dazz87]

White Bezels and a notch???? Please take my money.

 

[synergize]

Is that a pre-school laptop, because it will only appeal to age 5 and under!

 

[alchemistmuffin]

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

So basically we’re getting a 4th generation MacBook, 5 years after the last one got updated……

I’m guessing model identifier would be MacBook11,1?

 

[Warped9]

Like on the new iMac off-white bezels means really light grey. It only looks white in comparison to surrounding colours. That Apple is going this route is not at all surprising. And you would think those who vented pointlessly over this on the iMac 24 would have gotten it out of their system. Guess not.

“No one wanting to do serious video editing will use this.” Really? People are video editing without serious issue on the current M1 MacBook Air and they’re getting 14 hours of battery life as well. And this machine isn’t aimed at industrial level video editing—thats what the new Pro is for. So why howl nonstop about a machine you probably wouldn’t want anyway?

 

[BreakYurAnkles]

Well, if the rumors are remotely true, I'm quite happy with my new M1 Air 16GB 1TB SSD I picked up this month. Not crazy about the new designs honestly.

if this one has the brighter, newer, and larger screen and starts with 16gb ram for $200-$300 more I would have to take the newer one. I think the render/ example picture provided with the silver with white isn't all that bad. reminds me of a silver ipad.

The notch is something i'd have to see in person and make a decision afterwards.

 

[Kierkegaarden]

The off white bezel with camera module bump actually looks pretty neat in this rendering. If they offered this color on the phone I might prefer it over black.