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

[Christopher Kim]

What am I missing? Refurbished 14": $1539. The 13" already costs $1199, which will put the 15" at roughly $1399. In what world would anyone pick a 15" Air over the 14" that comes with 16GiB and 500GB by default as well as the XDR display...??? It is still readily available new from retailers too.

I can't be the only one who isn't excited for another brand new entry level device that has worse hardware than the Pro hardware from over a year ago. Similarly to how I would always pick the previous-gen iPhone Pro over the current-gen non-Pro. I really don't see the point.

Like you said, it's probably those who really want the 1) larger screen (and ok with it not being Pro Motion), 2) thinner more portable profile, and 3) max battery life. I don't disagree with you - I am not the target customer for the 15 MBA. To me, the 14" M1 version (new, let alone refurb) would be a better value today (especially given the default 16gb / 512gb it comes with). But there are people out there.

That's a good thing though, as the hardware ages discounts are the logical conclusion. You still get the full performance you paid for initially. All tech seems a bad investment if we look at it like that - but we shouldn't buy Macbooks as an investment. What does it matter that your base model with a solid 16GiB and 500GB wouldn't sell well? In 3-5 years you'll still get a couple hundred bucks back anyways if you sell it eventually. You'll find a buyer for that base model without problems.

I see this mindset a lot, buying a house, buying a car, whatever it is. Always wondering if it's a good investment. I don't buy these things as investments, I look at what will last me the longest, likely have to pay a bit extra for that, which is why I paid the Apple tax on the M1 Max upgrade, but now I don't need to care how much this thing is worth now or in x years. It will last long enough that the cost over 5+ years really doesn't even matter anymore.

I'm not taking the view that it's a bad investment. More that you can get effectively the same thing (3-5yrs usage) but at a lower entry price (especially if you're a base-model purchaser). All you give up is not being a Day 1 buyer.

I was really just observing that the time from launch -> time to discounts seems to have gotten shorter as of late. So the "cost of waiting" is decreasing. As a thought experiment, if you knew that Day 1 MBP 14" price is $1999, but literally the next week, it would be discounted to $1699, most ppl would think it makes sense to wait right? Doesn't change the fact that the product will last long, that you'll keep it for 5+ years, and that once you buy it you don't have to worry about the cost anymore. All still true. But you might as well pay less for it now, and use the saved dollars for something else.

That's all I was saying, just to a lesser extent. Just commenting as an historical Day 1 purchaser for many things Apple...

 

[Darth Tulhu]

iPadOS / iOS with their rage inducing, crippling restrictions and app store lockdown are a *hard no* for me.

I understand this sentiment. Apple has marketed the iPad as a laptop replacement, but it really isn't in a real sense.

It CAN be for some people (I went iPad-only for 6 months), but make no mistake, the iPad is still Mac-dependent.

Also, there are still issues with even basic Web access... some pages do not display correctly or behave in a wonky way when you request desktop websites. We're just not there yet, but almost.

That said, having both devices (like Apple intended) is pure HEAVEN, because they integrate. Oh. So. Well.

A dual-screen setup that fits in ANY backpack and weighs less than my beloved 17" MBP, with the added ability to leave the keyboard and trackpad behind, is fantastic.

 

[okkibs]

So the "cost of waiting" is decreasing. As a thought experiment, if you knew that Day 1 MBP 14" price is $1999, but literally the next week, it would be discounted to $1699, most ppl would think it makes sense to wait right? Doesn't change the fact that the product will last long, that you'll keep it for 5+ years

Okay that is for sure true for many customers. But there are some who can always use the extra power and the overheating 16" Intel i9 really wasn't a solution (battery life was abysmal too). It took nearly a year for sales like the $1599 14" base model one to appear. Customers would have had to wait for more than 6 months to get a significant discount. And then the product actually does not last as long, because you are starting out with hardware that has last year's performance.

Would I wait for one week, or two or three, and take the discount? Yes, absolutely. Would I wait for months for a sale happen for just the right config I need, if I am lucky, even though I could be working on a faster workstation with literally double the battery runtime right away? I'll pay the full price and get the new machine asap. I switched to M1 on day one and then again to M1 Max on day one, and getting rid of the last Intel MBP asap was a good decision. I was ready to throw that garbage Intel Mac out the window.

having both devices (like Apple intended) is pure HEAVEN, because they integrate. Oh. So. Well.

When I am on the go with my iPad, it's because I don't want to carry around the Macbook. And when I am at my desk with the external monitors setup and other peripherals, the iPad is useless. So for that integration, I don't see the point. If I want to work on the go, it's on a flight or at an airport waiting lounge or similar. Then extending the screen with the iPad isn't feasible either. I'd rather have a standalone iPad, but as you explained that doesn't work with Apple's vision.

 

[Darth Tulhu]

When I am on the go with my iPad, it's because I don't want to carry around the Macbook. And when I am at my desk with the external monitors setup and other peripherals, the iPad is useless. So for that integration, I don't see the point. If I want to work on the go, it's on a flight or at an airport waiting lounge or similar. Then extending the screen with the iPad isn't feasible either. I'd rather have a standalone iPad, but as you explained that doesn't work with Apple's vision.

Understandable.

In my case, if I have to travel to remote locations I basically have a dual-monitor setup at all times, and picking the iPad only for a specific task (especially Pencil tasks requiring signatures, etc.) means when I come back I can drag and drop files wirelessly and instantly between devices (even via the screen!), even if iCloud syncing is unavailable or unwanted.

My iPad and My MBA have the same amount of storage, so keeping them in sync is a breeze.

But yes, even if I DON'T want the iPad to behave like the Mac, I DO want it to be just as capable.

And the M2 MBA somewhat mitigates the iPad's weight/portability advantages.

 

[Daum]

I struggle to understand anyone who wants a 12 inch machine. I'd assume its just for personal use.. web browsing, music and basic spreadsheets?

I think I'd struggle looking at big spread sheets on such a small screen - more so when comparing documents together or a web browser and excel document etc.

Yes, I got the 12in MacBook at launch and while everyone hated it because it was underpowered and expensive, it was my favorite Mac ever. Not only was I able to do basic tasks but I even did designer work with it in Sketch and Figma. Also great for travel to edit photos and at the time 1080 video edits for shirt clips. Imagine an updated 12in with Apple Silicone.

If the Air is supposed to be a toned down Pro, why would you want it to be the same size as a Pro? Wouldn't you want a smaller laptop to do those basic day to day or travel task? if you really wanted a big screen with with pro specs, why not get a pro? it's only like 7mm thicker.

 

[Tagbert]

Yes, I got the 12in MacBook at launch and while everyone hated it because it was underpowered and expensive, it was my favorite Mac ever. Not only was I able to do basic tasks but I even did designer work with it in Sketch and Figma. Also great for travel to edit photos and at the time 1080 video edits for shirt clips. Imagine an updated 12in with Apple Silicone.

If the Air is supposed to be a toned down Pro, why would you want it to be the same size as a Pro? Wouldn't you want a smaller laptop to do those basic day to day or travel task? if you really wanted a big screen with with pro specs, why not get a pro? it's only like 7mm thicker.

People asking for a 15” Air do want the larger screen but don’t need the extra pro performance and weight of the 16” MBP. The other thing is that the 16” MBP starts at least $1000 more expensive than a 15” Air would be. that is a lot of money when you don’t need the prod specs.

 

[compwiz1202]

Yes, I got the 12in MacBook at launch and while everyone hated it because it was underpowered and expensive, it was my favorite Mac ever. Not only was I able to do basic tasks but I even did designer work with it in Sketch and Figma. Also great for travel to edit photos and at the time 1080 video edits for shirt clips. Imagine an updated 12in with Apple Silicone.

If the Air is supposed to be a toned down Pro, why would you want it to be the same size as a Pro? Wouldn't you want a smaller laptop to do those basic day to day or travel task? if you really wanted a big screen with with pro specs, why not get a pro? it's only like 7mm thicker.

But some don't want a big screen Pro. We want a large screen at a reasonable price,

 

[Frantisekj]

People asking for a 15” Air do want the larger screen but don’t need the extra pro performance and weight of the 16” MBP. The other thing is that the 16” MBP starts at least $1000 more expensive than a 15” Air would be. that is a lot of money when you don’t need the prod specs.

There is question where the real 15" Air screen estate compare to? Whether to 14.2” or to 16.2” MBP. If it will have screen size as previous MBP, 15,4" then you can be right if 15,2" or less then it is questionable.

 

[Tagbert]

There is question where the real 15" Air screen estate compare to? Whether to 14.2” or to 16.2” MBP. If it will have screen size as previous MBP, 15,4" then you can be right if 15,2" or less then it is questionable.

I have seen rumors of both 15” and 15.5”. Recent rumor was that it would have the same resolution as the 14”MBP but scaled slightly larger. We may not get anything more definite until it gets much closer to being announced. Those kinds of details tend to leak out in the week before an announcement.