Production of 15-Inch MacBook Air Components Underway, WWDC Launch Looking Likely

[Realityck]

Buy an iPad?

Actually it’s the opposite buy a 12“ MacBook Air instead of being stuck with iPadOS limitations for that size. Gven how much performance is available via the AS platform any modern day petite MBA would be attractive instead of all the petite Intel netbooks. Another missed opportunity by Apple IMHO.

 

[Rodney Dangerfield]

So is WWDC just gonna become new Macbook Air day now?

Disagree...WWDC 2023 = Midnight 15" MacBook Air Day...Yippee!!!

 

[Realityck]

I think people focus too much on size and typical specifications and nobody question what innovations this new laptop could bring. Just bigger MBA or slimmer/lighter MBP, I really couldn't care less and is definitely not a buying factor for me. Apple should do more and better than that.

The should, still the 15.5” MBA rumors should be looked at as a stimulus of MacOS. You really want consumers to use both a iPhone and a petite Mac as a alternative to a iPhone/iPad if that’s what the buyer prefers. This ipad is the only small solution for 8.3” to 12.1” sizes is at times frustratin, but we understand the attraction of a good tablet too.

 

[Realityck]

Disagree...WWDC 2023 = Midnight 15" MacBook Air Day...Yippee!!!

Which could be announced anytime Mid April thru first 2 weeks of May to buy. Why wait to use WWDC?

 

[Rodney Dangerfield]

Which could be announced anytime Mid April thru first 2 weeks of May to buy. Why wait to use WWDC?

More eyeballs = more sales = $$$

 

[Realityck]

More eyeballs = more sales = $$$

There is already considerable attention with the 15” MBA, so the WWDC advantage is IMHO moot. Just have a announcement and think of other products to pitch at WWDC, like announcing a line of a Mac Pros that reflects power computing for the masses thru more specialized creative types or educatonal Mac community.

 

[bradman83]

I’m curious: Do you use a 14” MacBook Pro as your daily driver?

Well said. I need the GPU power of my 16” MBP, but it is too damn bulky and heavy — so I’m willing to trade down to a 15” Air if it comes close to the 2021 M1 Max GPU specs. I suspect that many proclaiming that the 16” MBP is thin and light are either (a) not using one, (b) use it mostly stationary not while traveling, or (c) coming from a bulkier and heavier PC.

I use the 14” MBP as my daily driver and for me its the sweet spot between size and power. I had a 2010 15” MBP that had a good long life but when it was time to upgrade I decided it was just too big and bulky. I went with a 2018 13” MBP and while I loved the thin sleekness of the chassis it was underpowered, so I jumped on a 2021 14” M1 Pro model when they came out.

Is the 14” more clunky than the 13”? Sure. It’s technically the same thickness as the 13” MBPs but it looks thicker because it lacks the tapers, and it’s a half pound heavier. It’s still thinner, lighter, and significantly more powerful than my 14” work laptop (an HP EliteBook 840 G8) and it’s still thinner than an iPad Pro with the Magic Keyboard case. For me the real win is that the internals of the 16” are available in a smaller chassis, something that just wasn’t an option with the Intel models.

 

[michaelsviews]

WWDC release? Wait for all the opinions. Give it 3 maybe 4 months it'll be in the refurbished area.
Which screen are they going to use?

 

[Realityck]

WWDC release? Wait for all the opinions. Give it 3 maybe 4 months it'll be in the refurbished area.
Which screen are they going to use?

Likely a standard LCD edge lit. ~ 500 nits.

 

[CarAnalogy]

13" MBA is 2.7 pounds (1.24 kg)
14" MBP (M2 Pro) is 3.5 pounds (1.60 kg)
16" MBP (M2 Pro) is 4.7 pounds 2.15 kg)

A 15" MBA will weigh just as much as a 14" MBP (M2 Pro), or slightly more. And dimensions will be bigger.

The MBP is more dense though.

 

[darngooddesign]

Good, lots of people are looking forward to this computer.

 

[NeonNights]

If the 15" Air doesn't impress me then I'm definitely getting a 14" MBP.

The 14 MBP is by no means heavy. It is heavier than an Air, but essentially the same size and weight as my 2015 13" MBP (at 3.5 lbs). I took that old 13 MBP everywhere, and travelled internationally with it too.

 

[jamie_gelaskins]

I've been loving the speed and screen size of the 16" M1 Pro but I would def be interested in downsizing to a more-portable 15" MacBook Air. I demoed the 13" M2 Air last fall and loved it but ultimately decided I needed the screen real estate.

 

[jamie_gelaskins]

Sadly, the 12 inch MacBook seems more unlikely each month it passes.

Yeah I wouldn't hold out for that. The old 12 was a sweet little machine. Many folks on my team loved the 11" back in the day.

 

[heretiq]

I use the 14” MBP as my daily driver and for me its the sweet spot between size and power. I had a 2010 15” MBP that had a good long life but when it was time to upgrade I decided it was just too big and bulky. I went with a 2018 13” MBP and while I loved the thin sleekness of the chassis it was underpowered, so I jumped on a 2021 14” M1 Pro model when they came out.

Is the 14” more clunky than the 13”? Sure. It’s technically the same thickness as the 13” MBPs but it looks thicker because it lacks the tapers, and it’s a half pound heavier. It’s still thinner, lighter, and significantly more powerful than my 14” work laptop (an HP EliteBook 840 G8) and it’s still thinner than an iPad Pro with the Magic Keyboard case. For me the real win is that the internals of the 16” are available in a smaller chassis, something that just wasn’t an option with the Intel models.

Nice. The 14” does seem to be a sweet spot for those who ok with a less than 15” screen. Congratulations on making a good choice that is not necessarily obvious in the heat of deciding among two very impressive options. 🙏🏽

I considered the 14” but opted for the 16” M1 Max for the screen size and higher GPU performance. Unfortunately that came with 34% more weight (4.7 vs 3.5 pounds) and 8% height increase (.66 vs .61 inches) — which I knowingly accepted.

I do love the 16” Pro and believe it was (and currently still is) the best choice for my use case; but the bulkiness (weight + size) is very noticeable when lugging it around and has me wishing for something less bulky. The 15” Air could be it for me.

 

[heretiq]

I've been loving the speed and screen size of the 16" M1 Pro but I would def be interested in downsizing to a more-portable 15" MacBook Air. I demoed the 13" M2 Air last fall and loved it but ultimately decided I needed the screen real estate.

Ditto. That makes at least 2 of us! 🤓

 

[compwiz1202]

Some of you are way overestimating the price. It will very likely be $100 more than the 13”, $200 max.

Yes hoping for same specs other than screen for $200 more like the equally specced 14 vs 16 of MNP

 

[jamie_gelaskins]

Everybody seems to be excited about this but you'll be probably better off just buying a MBP 14 inch once the pricing and specs come out.

I think it depends on whether people value top end performance or portability. I've had the 16" M1 for a few months now and having spent a week with the M2 Air last year, I gotta say, I'm stoked for a larger Air. The photoshop performance on the base M2 that I tested was stellar (waaay ahead of the i7 15" MBP that I was replacing) and I loved how slim and light it was. Ultimately I went with the 16" M1 Pro for the screen size but it barely fits in my backpack and is noticeably heavier than the 15" that it replaced.

 

[4odomi]

Why is that tho? MacBook Air is thin, compact, and extremely lightweight. Bonus: It comes in different colors. I hate the fact MBP is too heavy and it’s not a good companion for traveling purposes.

Like the 13 inch MacBook Air M2, it will have, slower SSD, worse screen, worse camera, worse speakers, no pro motion, zero cooling....that's before we get onto the price, which with like for like config, will be close to $1800 if not more 😏
Not that great, when all is considered 😊

 

[4odomi]

Will be interesting to see the price/specs on this. I just bought a recent Costco deal which had the base 16-inch MBP M1 for $1799. I contemplated holding out for the 15-inch Air, but figured it would be similar in price with possibly less specs (except for processor?).

Specs on the computer I purchase was:

• M1 Pro
• 16GB RAM
• 512 GB SSD

Just can't see an Air with similar specs in the same price range which is too bad. Configuring the current 13-inch Air to those specs (with an M2) bring the price to $1,699.00. Upgrading to a 15-inch will be more than $100 for sure. The only unknown is the possibility of maybe an M3 and how that would compare to the older processor generations—but it's still probably too early for that generation in the Air?

Time will tell.

Aside from the processor, everything else is much better on the Pro than the air.....amazing how many people seem to miss that fact 😳
I can assure you, you've made the right decision 👏

 

[turbineseaplane]

The biggest problem with all the new Mac products is the meager base specs and lack of user upgradability.

Apples MSRPs and Ram/SSD upcharges are obscene and the only reasonable pricing is from third party sellers and sales… which are mostly always on stock models.

It’s a really crap situation

I see the preowned marketplace around me flooded with base model M Macs that never move and are of no interest to most because they “are what they are”… forever stuck with their base Ram or SSD (or both)

What a waste

Products the size of computers shouldn’t be designed this way

They should all have NVMe slots and 16gb RAM base (or slotted RAM also)

 

[ThisBougieLife]

I am at the opposite end of the spectrum and love my M1 wedge Air. I also don't understand the appeal of the midnight M2 Air. Costco has several MacBook models on display and the generic M2 Air laptop shape is very meh to me. The midnight color also looks so dull and bland in person.

I really enjoy using the wedge Air after coming from a 2015 MBP. The new M2 Air design effectively drives me back to a MBP for my next laptop. I'm just waiting to see what the 15" Air has to offer in design, price, specs, and weight before making a final call. But for sure I'm not giving up my M1 wedge for the M2 Air.

I'm mostly fine with the new design, but I agree the Midnight color is overrated. It being a huge fingerprint magnet, on top of the stories about the paint flaking off, makes it a non-starter for me. If I get a 15" MBA, I'll likely go for the Starlight color.

I had a wedge MBA as my main laptop when I was in middle school. I loved it because of how lightweight it was and the wedge shape immediately meant it was a MacBook Air. The new MBAs just look like slimmed down MBPs, which was never the case.

Part of why I think they may soon retire the "Air" name and just call them MacBooks.

 

[4odomi]

Right. It's likely going to be the 3nm M3. The confluence is there.

MacBook Air 15 inch, is not about more power, it's about a bigger screen, aimed at the cheap end of the market, it will be M2

 

[4odomi]

One analyst reported today that Mac sales are down 40% in the January-March quarter 2023 vs last year. Nobody I know is in the market for a $3k laptop just to get a 15+inch screen so they can see and manipulate their spreadsheets. Apple needs to get real on pricing and produce products that are relevant to the majority of their users. Quality yes. At a premium ok. But when the entry price for a > 14 inch laptop is $2,500 something has to give.

A 15.5 inch MBA with last year's processor and the year before last's display technology at $1,500 would sell so fast their heads would spin.

There will be a lot of disappointed people, who think they'll be getting a 15" air with M3 FOR $1500 🤣

 

[4odomi]

Right. It's likely going to be the 3nm M3. The confluence is there.

There will be a lot of disappointed people, who think they'll be getting a 15" air with M3 FOR $1500 🤣