The 15” MacBook Air Will Start at $1499

[MuckrakerJG]

Greetings, citizens. I am from the future.

The 15“ MacBook Air will start at $1499. I know this because, well, I am from the future like I said, but also because:

14” MacBook Pro: 10 core CPU/16 Core GPU/512 GB is $1999
14” MacBook Pro: 12 core CPU/19 Core GPU/1 TB is $2499
16” MacBook Pro: 12 core CPU/19 Core GPU/512 GB is $2499

With the above pricing, you can pay $500 more to get more cores and a bigger SSD or pay $500 more to get more cores and a bigger screen but same 512 SSD.

Using this same logic:

13.6” M2 MacBook Air: 8 core CPU/8 core GPU/256 GB is $1199
13.6” M2 MacBook Air: 8 core CPU/10 core GPU/512 GB is $1499
15.2” M2 MacBook Air: 8 core CPU/10 core GPU/256 GB is $1499.

The upgrade amount between retail models is $300 this time but will once again be your choice of more cores and a bigger SSD or more cores and a bigger screen but same 256 SSD.

This will also set up nicely for Apple’s usual upgrading scheme to always push the customer towards the higher end product:

$1499 15” MacBook Air with upgraded RAM to 16 GB ($200 upgrade) and upgraded SSD to 512 GB ($200 upgrade) would then be $1899, at which point, people will stop and consider if they just want the $1999 MacBook Pro which has a smaller screen but is ProMotion and already has the 16/512 and more cores.

This is what will happen in the future. I have spoken.

 

[darngooddesign]

It will be $150-$200 more than the equivalent 13” Air.

 

[coffeemilktea]

Actual figures and calculations? Already this sounds more believable than most of the "analysts" and leakers on MacRumors' front page.

 

[fisherking]

you're from the future... yet you didn't see that i was going to post that there are already threads discussing the rumored 15" air's pricing? hmmmmm 😉

15" air pricing...

 

[MuckrakerJG]

you're from the future... yet you didn't see that i was going to post that there are already threads discussing the rumored 15" air's pricing? hmmmmm 😉

15" air pricing...

This was originally posted in a different forum I searched that didn’t have a thread for this. Was moved into the MacBook Air thread by a mod it looks like and yes, now there are two of them. Apologies, but was just having a bit of fun.

 

[okkibs]

For $1499 for the base model it's dead on arrival to me. Best Buy still sells the M1 14" for $1599 right now and it comes with double the storage and memory. The 15" Air is essentially a slightly faster $799 M1 Air with a bigger screen and Magsafe. The 15" Air is stuck in between paying nearly twice as much for the larger screen, and the 14".

I do not see how anyone can get excited for hardware in 2023 that is bested by a 2 year old MBP.

 

[fisherking]

For $1499 for the base model it's dead on arrival to me. Best Buy still sells the M1 14" for $1599 right now and it comes with double the storage and memory. The 15" Air is essentially a slightly faster $799 M1 Air with a bigger screen and Magsafe. The 15" Air is stuck in between paying nearly twice as much for the larger screen, and the 14".

I do not see how anyone can get excited for hardware in 2023 that is bested by a 2 year old MBP.

you do realize that we're discussing a rumored mac, that doesn't yet exist (for the public)? which means, you haven't seen the actual air, seen the specs, seen the price?

i do not see how anyone can get angry about hardware in 2023 that hasn't yet been released...

 

[darngooddesign]

For $1499 for the base model it's dead on arrival to me. Best Buy still sells the M1 14" for $1599 right now and it comes with double the storage and memory. The 15" Air is essentially a slightly faster $799 M1 Air with a bigger screen and Magsafe. The 15" Air is stuck in between paying nearly twice as much for the larger screen, and the 14".

I do not see how anyone can get excited for hardware in 2023 that is bested by a 2 year old MBP.

Someone who would choose a MBP is not the target for a MBA.

 

[okkibs]

you haven't seen the actual air, seen the specs, seen the price?

You do realise this entire thread is based on the assumptions in the start post that include specs and pricing?

 

[gpat]

Someone who would choose a MBP is not the target for a MBA.

Maybe in 2008. They've been overlapping products for more than a decade now.
Only the 16"/15" (with higher powered CPU) has always been a whole different beast.

 

[darngooddesign]

Maybe in 2008. They've been overlapping products for more than a decade now.
Only the 16"/15" (with higher powered CPU) has always been a whole different beast.

Sure that must be why Apple has hasn't sold any Airs in the past decade.

 

[fisherking]

You do realise this entire thread is based on the assumptions in the start post that include specs and pricing?

theoretical specs and pricing. and this is what you wrote (and i responded specifically to what you wrote) -

"For $1499 for the base model it's dead on arrival to me. Best Buy still sells the M1 14" for $1599 right now and it comes with double the storage and memory. The 15" Air is essentially a slightly faster $799 M1 Air with a bigger screen and Magsafe. The 15" Air is stuck in between paying nearly twice as much for the larger screen, and the 14".

I do not see how anyone can get excited for hardware in 2023 that is bested by a 2 year old MBP."

 

[Realityck]

Someone who would choose a MBP is not the target for a MBA.

Thats debatable given how many loved that model. it weighs less, pretty good battery life, the speakers and mini-LED display that allows outside usage. If you think it’s all about fanless, low weight that’s not going to necessarily sway everyon. Also the 15.5” size might be a handicap with use on plane, train, or bus. Yeah there is also the fact this whole thought is just an another rumor as just mentioned. Yeah a red herring.

 

[Realityck]

Note the new M2 14” 16gb 512GB SSD MBP for $1799.

Apple 2023 MacBook Pro Laptop with Apple M2 Pro chip with 10‑core CPU and 16‑core GPU: 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Display, 16GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD Storage. Works with iPhone/iPad; Silver

The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M2 Pro and M2 Max takes power and speed to the next level, whether it’s on battery or plugged in. With a stunning Liquid Retina XDR display, all the ports you need, and all-day battery life—this pro laptop goes anywhere you need.

www.amazon.com

The rumored 15” MBA just seems to need to be a lot cheaper then $1499.

 

[gpat]

Any price hypothesis should also take in account that the 13" M2 will have to drop to $999 sooner or later.
They can't sell the M1 forever.

 

[KeepCalmPeople]

Nah. I think it'll start at $1,399. That will be $1,299 EDU pricing in the US. Then you'll be able to save another $100 or $150 over the summer with Apple's back to school promotion. Both it and the 13-inch model will see a lot of $100+ discounts throughout the year and especially towards Christmas.

 

[boak]

$1399

 

[Realityck]

For 16 GB and 512GB SSD? Might as well set a price point where you don't need to buy anything beyond the standard config.

 

[JamesMay82]

This was originally posted in a different forum I searched that didn’t have a thread for this. Was moved into the MacBook Air thread by a mod it looks like and yes, now there are two of them. Apologies, but was just having a bit of fun.

Ah man! So you’re not really from the future?

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

I could see Apple drop the M2 Air (which will have been a full year old by WWDC) down to $1099, then starting the 15 at $1299 for 8/256.
Apple really likes that $1299 price point, it’s what the iMac starts at, it’s what the 13 inch MacBook Pro starts at, it’s what the old 12 inch MacBook started at… and I think it’s what the new air will start at.

 

[KeepCalmPeople]

I could see Apple drop the M2 Air (which will have been a full year old by WWDC) down to $1099, then starting the 15 at $1299 for 8/256.
Apple really likes that $1299 price point, it’s what the iMac starts at, it’s what the 13 inch MacBook Pro starts at, it’s what the old 12 inch MacBook started at… and I think it’s what the new air will start at.

Ohh, I like that. I think that will make a lot of people happy.

 

[Tagbert]

For $1499 for the base model it's dead on arrival to me. Best Buy still sells the M1 14" for $1599 right now and it comes with double the storage and memory. The 15" Air is essentially a slightly faster $799 M1 Air with a bigger screen and Magsafe. The 15" Air is stuck in between paying nearly twice as much for the larger screen, and the 14".

I do not see how anyone can get excited for hardware in 2023 that is bested by a 2 year old MBP.

A 15” Air would have a larger screen and be faster in single core processing - which describes a lot of applications and use cases.

 

[Realityck]

You are not comparing equivalent models. You are using a low end 14” and a higher spec 16” and finding a $500 price difference. You can’t just compare base price to base price, they are not the same spec.

14” MBP 12cpu/19gpu 16/512GB $2299
16” MBP 12cpu/19gpu 16/256GB $2499

That gives a $200 difference that is only attributable to screen and case size.

If you apply that to a 15.x” MBA
13.6” M2 MBA 8CPU/8gpu 8/256GB $1199
13.6” M2 MBA 8CPU/10gpu 8/256 $1299


A 15” Air would have a larger screen and be faster in single core processing - which describes a lot of applications and use cases.

After all this time, the 15" is still a rumor. I wonder if it is become more real over time?

Rumors about a 15-inch MacBook Air began in earnest at the start of 2022. Earlier rumors hinted at a 15-inch model, but they were less certain in January 2021.

Yeah most don't realize its that old a rumor.

 

[lambertjohn]

How does trying to predict the price of the 15" Air help anyone buy one? Never understood that. For all we know, it may not even become an actual product.

 

[okkibs]

A 15” Air would have a larger screen and be faster in single core processing - which describes a lot of applications and use cases.

If that 10% difference in single core performance matters, then surely we should mention that the base model M2 Airs have a 40% slower SSD compared to the 14" M1 base model. It looks to me like you cherry pick the tiny differences that are in the Air's favor and neglect to mention everything else, like having less ports, only one external display supported, oh and that larger screen has the same resolution as the 14". Manufacturing quality is not as good either, the 13" M2 Air has more keyboard flex than the 14".