Should Apple release a M4 Air SKU with fan and vents?

[DeepSix]

If so would you buy it over the fanless SKU? I think it would be a good idea for Apple to have a M4 SKU that has a fan and vent inside to give us more options.

How much of a factor was it for you in buying the Air that its fanless and has no vents?

 

[chabig]

Apple already has this product and it's called MacBook Pro. The Air is fanless and should remain that way. I prefer the Air because it's thinner and lighter, but if I wanted a more powerful machine I'd get the Pro.

 

[DeepSix]

Apple already has this product and it's called MacBook Pro. The Air is fanless and should remain that way. I prefer the Air because it's thinner and lighter, but if I wanted a more powerful machine I'd get the Pro.

I see what you're saying but the Air and Pro are two completely different class laptops. What I was suggesting is, Apple should come out with a fan and vent design M4 Air so it performs the same as the Pro but with the form factor of the Air. Because we all know the Air has by far the better and sleeker form factor over the Pro.

 

[chabig]

Apple is pretty hard core about making products as small as possible. If they could fit the power of a MacBook Pro into a product the size of a MacBook Air, I'm sure they would.

 

[raythompsontn]

Apple should come out with a fan and vent design M4 Air so it performs the same as the Pro but with the form factor of the Air

That would compromise the concept of the Pro machine. Why buy a Pro if the Air does the same and performs the same? There would be no need for the Pro. That is never going to happen.

 

[joeblow7777]

I don't see the point of this when the MBP is an option.

 

[geta]

No. You have the base M4 MBP if you must have a fan.

 

[krspkbl]

No.

I don't want a fan inside my laptop so even if the option was there I'd still get fanless.

 

[bearda]

I see what you're saying but the Air and Pro are two completely different class laptops. What I was suggesting is, Apple should come out with a fan and vent design M4 Air so it performs the same as the Pro but with the form factor of the Air. Because we all know the Air has by far the better and sleeker form factor over the Pro.

Part of the reason it's lighter and sleeker is because it has on passive cooling.

 

[fuchsdh]

I see what you're saying but the Air and Pro are two completely different class laptops. What I was suggesting is, Apple should come out with a fan and vent design M4 Air so it performs the same as the Pro but with the form factor of the Air. Because we all know the Air has by far the better and sleeker form factor over the Pro.

As mentioned by others, these design choices don't exist in a vacuum. Having an active cooling system adds bulk and weight, which eats into the point of the air as a thin-and-light option. Apple could create a whole host of products, but they don't because they can't make a product for every single person, and they are better served by offering products that have clearer distinctions between them.

 

[DeepSix]

Part of the reason it's lighter and sleeker is because it has on passive cooling.

As mentioned by others, these design choices don't exist in a vacuum. Having an active cooling system adds bulk and weight, which eats into the point of the air as a thin-and-light option. Apple could create a whole host of products, but they don't because they can't make a product for every single person, and they are better served by offering products that have clearer distinctions between them.

I thought most users would prefer a fan? Maybe in 5 years we see a Macbook Pro as thin and light as the current airs.

 

[throAU]

I see what you're saying but the Air and Pro are two completely different class laptops. What I was suggesting is, Apple should come out with a fan and vent design M4 Air so it performs the same as the Pro but with the form factor of the Air. Because we all know the Air has by far the better and sleeker form factor over the Pro.

it won't be smaller and perform the same because physics

I'd actually like something the other way around: pro form factor with ability to disable the fan entirely and throttle it. I guess we already kinda have that with low power mode.

 

[russell_314]

Apple already has this product and it's called MacBook Pro.

Exactly this! The whole purpose of the Air is thin and lightweight. It doesn’t need a fan. If you’re doing video editing then get the Pro

If someone is looking for a slightly more capable Mac than the Air, but don’t need the Pro chip, they make the MacBook Pro with a regular M4 chip

 

[NT1440]

I see what you're saying but the Air and Pro are two completely different class laptops. What I was suggesting is, Apple should come out with a fan and vent design M4 Air so it performs the same as the Pro but with the form factor of the Air. Because we all know the Air has by far the better and sleeker form factor over the Pro.

Yes, part of the class is that it’s a completely silent, fanless, solid state computer. That is the entire point. There will never be a fan in an Air again, and there was only one in the Intel machines because of Intel.

 

[russell_314]

I thought most users would prefer a fan? Maybe in 5 years we see a Macbook Pro as thin and light as the current airs.

Why do you think most people using the Air would want a fan? It’s targeted at general computing like browsing the web, office documents, watching videos, and other easy stuff. A fan wouldn’t improve performance and would make noise. There’s no upside.

 

[DeepSix]

Yes, part of the class is that it’s a completely silent, fanless, solid state computer. That is the entire point. There will never be a fan in an Air again, and there was only one in the Intel machines because of Intel.

Why do you think most people using the Air would want a fan? It’s targeted at general computing like browsing the web, office documents, watching videos, and other easy stuff. A fan wouldn’t improve performance and would make noise. There’s no upside.

Even though I prefer no fan, it also makes me a bit nervous longg term because we all know that heat is the #1 factor for deaths in any electronics. Im fine with it in something like the ipad but the Macbook gets WAAAY hotter than any ipad would. 100F even in a short period of time makes me nervous inside. When I got my Air I didnt think this would be an issue but now it's making me second guess if this is a smart decision.

Im picking up a M4 Pro in a couple hours. Going to see which I prefer long term. This is going to be very tough. Each have its pros and cons.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Even though I prefer no fan, it also makes me a bit nervous longg term because we all know that heat is the #1 factor for deaths in any electronics. Im fine with it in something like the ipad but the Macbook gets WAAAY hotter than any ipad would.

This is just not correct.
The iPad Pro has the M4 chip just like the MacBook Air and base Pro, yet it’s almost 2/3 thinner and lighter, with a much smaller battery and a display literally sitting on top of it.
The iPad absolutely reaches hotter temperatures quicker than the MacBook Air.
And don't forget that, if device failure is what scares you about a fanless device, a fan is literally a moving part that can fail.
I'd say a dead fan is more likely than a MacBook Air dying because of hot temperatures. The MBA will shut itself down long before it reaches actual dangerous heat levels.

 

[russell_314]

Even though I prefer no fan, it also makes me a bit nervous longg term because we all know that heat is the #1 factor for deaths in any electronics. Im fine with it in something like the ipad but the Macbook gets WAAAY hotter than any ipad would. 100F even in a short period of time makes me nervous inside.

Why would 100 Fahrenheit make you nervous? Did you mean 100 Celsius? Even that is fine for modern processors and circuit boards. Computers are not a long term device. Seven years tops then they’re obsolete. I know people keep them longer but at that point they’re so slow compared with modern computers.

When I got my Air I didnt think this would be an issue but now it's making me second guess if this is a smart decision.

There are I’m sure tens of thousands of MacBook Air’s out there with no issues. If it stresses you out to think that it’s getting warm, get the base model non pro M4 MacBook Pro with a fan. I know everyone has their quirks when it comes to electronics so you have to do what makes you happy.

Im picking up a M4 Pro in a couple hours. Going to see which I prefer long term. This is going to be very tough. Each have its pros and cons.

The Air feels a lot lighter, but it’s meant for a lighter tasks.

 

[jdb8167]

No.

 

[G5isAlive]

Even though I prefer no fan, it also makes me a bit nervous longg term because we all know that heat is the #1 factor for deaths in any electronics.

Aren't you the person that started a thread because he carries an external battery so as not to use a laptops battery, increasing cycle count and theoretically, reducing resale value? Then started a thread about getting a keyboard protector for his Air because he was worried about shiny keys from use reducing resale value? And that a MacBook Air 15 is too large you would rather carry an external monitor?

This concern is an example of a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. We can second guess Apple's engineers I suppose, but by and large they know what they are doing, and the Air's power is balanced against the heat it generates so as not to cause failure. They Air is designed to be the ultimate Mac for portability, I dont think many want a fan in it. Then it would be larger and bulkier.

You do worry a lot. These things are tools to be used. Enjoy.

 

[Adora]

I don't think they'll do it. What will be the difference to the base M4 MacBook Pro? A cheaper display and very little smaller and lighter? The price difference between the base 14.2" Pro and the 13.6" M3 Air with similar specs is already not that much and the 15.3" is almost the same and has already almost the same weight.

There would only be a real place for that, if they do it for the 15.3". Because the larger Pro is very expensive and only available with M4 Pro and Max.

They could name it just MacBook then. 😊

 

[namria]

The effective fanless design is one of the key features of MB Air for me. So if you are Tim Cook, don't do it!

 

[russell_314]

You do worry a lot. These things are tools to be used. Enjoy.

Apple does sometimes cause that mentality because their products are so well thought out in design. It’s like buying a Rolex then not wanting to scratch it because that’s the natural reaction. It’s a totally understandable reaction but if that causes you to never wear the Rolex and keep it locked up in a safe, do you really enjoy it?

An example I can relate to is I recently bought a very nice car. Not my ultimate dream car but really close. Two weeks after I picked it up, someone in a parking lot put a small ding on the front bumper. It felt like someone punched me when I saw it, but then I quickly thought the car is something for me to enjoy. If I have to stress so much about getting a scratch or ding I will never enjoy it. I’m determined to enjoy it!

 

[DeepSix]

Aren't you the person that started a thread because he carries an external battery so as not to use a laptops battery, increasing cycle count and theoretically, reducing resale value? Then started a thread about getting a keyboard protector for his Air because he was worried about shiny keys from use reducing resale value? And that a MacBook Air 15 is too large you would rather carry an external monitor?

This concern is an example of a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. We can second guess Apple's engineers I suppose, but by and large they know what they are doing, and the Air's power is balanced against the heat it generates so as not to cause failure. They Air is designed to be the ultimate Mac for portability, I dont think many want a fan in it. Then it would be larger and bulkier.

You do worry a lot. These things are tools to be used. Enjoy.

Yes that is me. And I already have a couple more issues with the new 15 minute old M4 Pro I just picked up at Best Buy. First the box had scuffs on the outside. Not sure if it was thrown around the truck or not. And I checked the cycle count and it has 3. How does a brand new MacBook have any cycle counts if its never been used? Hmmm

 

[russell_314]

Yes that is me. And I already have a couple more issues with the new 15 minute old M4 Pro I just picked up at Best Buy. First the box had scuffs on the outside. Not sure if it was thrown around the truck or not. And I checked the cycle count and it has 3. How does a brand new MacBook have any cycle counts if its never been used? Hmmm

If it was Best Buy, they probably used it for a soccer ball in the back room. Those retail store employees can get a bit crazy on break 😂


Maybe the battery gets tested at the factory?