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Will there be a refresh this fall?

Dwalls90

Dwalls90

macrumors 603
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Feb 5, 2009
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It looks like the last 3 MacBook Air's have seen refreshes or updates every ~247 days, and we're at 296 days now since the last update. I'm selling my MacBook Pro 15" as I don't need this much power or screen size anymore, the AppleCare ends this fall, and I want to downsize. I'm not seeing any real rumor or indication of a refresh this year - am I missing anything? I was hoping that the current MacBook Air, which used the Intel chip chassis from 2018, would see a redesign soon and don't want to buy last year's model at this point.
 
Last rumor about MacBook, air I have heard, was new design next year with M2. In multiple colors like iPad air and the new 24" iMac.
 
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Significant1 said:
Last rumor about MacBook, air I have heard, was new design next year with M2. In multiple colors like iPad air and the new 24" iMac.
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Bummer. So I guess we're only getting the M1X this fall and will need to wait until next year for the M2.
 
I’m poised to trade in my 2017 MBP for a MBA but how long should I wait (with the event and potential refresh)?

and how likely are we to see a MBA refresh this year?
 
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Currently in the same situtation, and was hoping to do this during the summer with the then potential reveal of M1X MacBooks...

At this point, November is the only bet on the table for something substantial. Most important thing is the redesign, and if it will happen for the M1X, or the M2 version (which unfortunately would mean 2022...).
 
Yeah it’s a tricky one for timing. Do trade in values drop after events? I’m worried I won’t get the same after another MBP is released soon, e.g it’ll keep going down in value.

I’m sure there’ll be a redesign next year. If the MBP looks great and is affordable, I might just trade in for that but would prefer Air.
 
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dahlblom said:
Currently in the same situtation, and was hoping to do this during the summer with the then potential reveal of M1X MacBooks...

At this point, November is the only bet on the table for something substantial. Most important thing is the redesign, and if it will happen for the M1X, or the M2 version (which unfortunately would mean 2022...).
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I'm selling my current MBP now because I don't want it's resale value to tank more when the new Apple Silicon macs come out. So I guess I'll just have no Mac for a while. Not buying last year's model and chassis at this point. Or I guess maybe pickup the entry level MBP if it's cheap enough? I just don't really need that much power.
 
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Common sense also tells you there won't be a refresh this year. Mini LED is still a premium feature and hasn't even landed on MBP yet. M1X will be big piece of silicon, so it won't be used in MacBook Air. Those two features are set for 2022.
 
erasr said:
I’m poised to trade in my 2017 MBP for a MBA but how long should I wait (with the event and potential refresh)?

and how likely are we to see a MBA refresh this year?
Click to expand...
I just replaced my 2017 15" MBP with the M1 MBA and I couldn't be happier. This thing is a beast and the battery life is comical.
 
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Bandaman said:
I just replaced my 2017 15" MBP with the M1 MBA and I couldn't be happier. This thing is a beast and the battery life is comical.
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Thinking of doing the same thing with my 2012 15” Retina. Want something smaller and lighter than what I have. The MacBook Air can handle 4K video editing and photography much better than my current machine. Plus, I can hook up the Air to a 4k display at 60hz, which my 2012 machine only does at 30hz. Plus, the deals on the Air with 16gb of memory and 1TB or 2TB of storage will be cheaper than the same setup with a 14” MacBook Pro.

I do like the idea of the M1X processor and brighter screen but for my use anything I get is going to be much better than what I have. The M1X is rumoured to be more performance oriented hence I don’t see it having the same battery life over the Air. Mind you, I don’t think it will be bad by any means. Lol!
 
Woodcrest64 said:
Thinking of doing the same thing with my 2012 15” Retina. Want something smaller and lighter than what I have. The MacBook Air can handle 4K video editing and photography much better than my current machine. Plus, I can hook up the Air to a 4k display at 60hz, which my 2012 machine only does at 30hz. Plus, the deals on the Air with 16gb of memory and 1TB or 2TB of storage will be cheaper than the same setup with a 14” MacBook Pro.

I do like the idea of the M1X processor and brighter screen but for my use anything I get is going to be much better than what I have. The M1X is rumoured to be more performance oriented hence I don’t see it having the same battery life over the Air. Mind you, I don’t think it will be bad by any means. Lol!
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I have mine hooked up to a 4K monitor as well and it's been working great. Yes, I could have waited next year, but I couldn't wait any longer and this Air is faster at pretty much everything compared to my 2017 that cost twice as much. I have the 16GB/1TB model with the extra core. Dunno if the extra core does anything noticeable but whatever.

The battery life and portability ... and the fact that it loses 0 performance when it's unplugged are very huge pluses.
 
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Bandaman said:
I have mine hooked up to a 4K monitor as well and it's been working great. Yes, I could have waited next year, but I couldn't wait any longer and this Air is faster at pretty much everything compared to my 2017 that cost twice as much. I have the 16GB/1TB model with the extra core. Dunno if the extra core does anything noticeable but whatever.

The battery life and portability ... and the fact that it loses 0 performance when it's unplugged are very huge pluses.
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Enjoy..a friend just bought it and arrived today. No regrets.

I think a MacBook Air refresh will not come out until sometime 2022 (my guess). if rumors are correct, it will be a refresh with rainbow colors and redesign etc. so it would probably instead be a big main event and not just be an attachment to a redesigned MacBook Pro event.

I think a November event (if it does not happen sooner) will be for MacBook Pro models since rumors say both 14” and 16”. The current MacBook Air is a solid choice and would not be missed if it doesn’t get an update in the remaining of this year.

I get to watch my friend un-box and open up MacBook Air. What a tech-Geak” I am.. ;)
 

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Besides the M1 chip and the better battery life (resulting from the M1), the 2020 M1 MacBook Air is largely the same as the same version refreshed earlier in 2020. I still can't believe it still has only a 720p webcam. Unless I can pick up the rumored new MacBook Pro this fall for 1,200 or less (unlikely given the rumors we're hearing), then it just doesn't make sense to pickup an Air until the next refresh. Really unfortunate that rumors seem to indicate there will be no MacBook Air update until Q3 or Fall of 2022. That's basically another year away.
 
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maybe a minor update is coming?
Although in the past that was always only updating to a newer Intel Processor right?
So it will indeed only be a MacBook Air mid-late-2022 with the MXYZ processor and the design
 
TP18 said:
maybe a minor update is coming?
Although in the past that was always only updating to a newer Intel Processor right?
So it will indeed only be a MacBook Air mid-late-2022 with the MXYZ processor and the design
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It would be odd to me if we received no Air update until next fall as that would be a full two years in-between updates, but perhaps the competition is so weak against the M1 that Apple doesn’t feel threatened to have a faster update cycle at this time.
 
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Even though we know there won't be a refresh this year, let's pretend there is one coming.

What could Apple upgrade without overlapping with the 13-inch Pro (which is expected to remain in the lineup)?

  • Processor? M2 isn't available yet.
  • Display? 500 nits would make it the same as the Pro.
  • Radios? Already at 5.0 and AX.
  • Storage? Already at 256GB.

The only thing Apple could do this fall is introduce new colors or play around with the price.
 
JPack said:
Even though we know there won't be a refresh this year, let's pretend there is one coming.

What could Apple upgrade without overlapping with the 13-inch Pro (which is expected to remain in the lineup)?

  • Processor? M2 isn't available yet.
  • Display? 500 nits would make it the same as the Pro.
  • Radios? Already at 5.0 and AX.
  • Storage? Already at 256GB.

The only thing Apple could do this fall is introduce new colors or play around with the price.
Click to expand...
My wish is for cellular 5G. But I think we have to wait for Apple’s own chipset for that.
 
JPack said:
Even though we know there won't be a refresh this year, let's pretend there is one coming.

What could Apple upgrade without overlapping with the 13-inch Pro (which is expected to remain in the lineup)?

  • Processor? M2 isn't available yet.
  • Display? 500 nits would make it the same as the Pro.
  • Radios? Already at 5.0 and AX.
  • Storage? Already at 256GB.

The only thing Apple could do this fall is introduce new colors or play around with the price.
Click to expand...
I'm really curious about the "M2". Apple is obviously ahead of the curve and the M1 is a fantastic chip, however, if the M1 was from last fall, and we see the iPhone and iPad normally receiving a new chip every year, why can't this be the same case for Macs? One of the big reasons Apple is dumping Intel is to have a more aggressive chip roadmap, so sticking to a 2 year refresh cycle wouldn't really be an improvement from the status quo. This is just me dreaming, but I'd hope to see an M2 for the "baseline" Macs and the "M2X" for the Macbook Pro and other Pro Macs that they choose to update this fall.

I wouldn't mind default RAM or storage configs being available for a lower price, but that's usually not a page in Apple's playbook, so I'm not holding my breath.

If there is a product overhaul next year, then that's when I think we'd see new colors.

I'm not sure I see Apple flat out ignoring the Macbook Air this fall, but because the new models are rumored for next fall, that almost makes me think we'll see very modest improvements to hold us over.
 
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