I want a considerably smaller MacBook Air actually. Make one 12" MacBook size with a decent keyboard, 2 ports and M1 or better performance and it'd be the final evolution of the MacBook as far as I'm concerned.
Yup.
2014 iPad Air 2
2017 iPad Pro 10.5" with Smart Keyboard
2017 12" MacBook
2015 13" MacBook Pro
2017 13" MacBook Air
2009 13" MacBook Pro
2008 13" MacBook
The 2017 12" MacBook measures 28.05 x 19.65 cm <-- I love this size. So light and portable, it's a pleasure to use in the cramped cheap seats on the plane.
The 2017 13" MacBook Air measures 32.5 x 22.7 cm <-- Too big
The 2020 13" MacBook Air measures 30.4 x 21.2 cm <-- Much better than the 2017 Air but still too big
The 2015 13" MacBook Pro measures 31.4 x 21.9 cm <-- Better than the 2017 Air but still too big
The 2021 14" MacBook Pro measures 31.3 x 22.1 cm <-- Better than the 2017 Air but still too big
The 14" MacBook has a pixel density conveniently at 100 pixels per cm. It is 3024 pixels, meaning it is 30.2 cm wide. Given that the laptop is 31.3 cm wide, that means the bezel size combining the right and left together is 1.1 cm.
If we extrapolate to a 12" MacBook at 28.05 cm, that mean it could fit a 26.95 cm screen in there, or 2695 pixels wide. If we presume a notched 16:10 + 70 vertical pixel screen, and make the width a multiple of 16, that works out to 2688 x 1750 pixels = 32.07 cm or 12.6 inches.
IOW, Apple could fit a 12.6" 2688x1750 screen in the width of the 12" MacBook, which would be a totally awesome fanless machine, at least if it had at least two USB 4 ports, scissor keyboard, and stronger trackpad. They could just call it another Air. People who want the bigger screen more than 14” will need to go to the 16” Pro.
It would make for a good range of models: 12" + 14" Air, plus 14" + 16" Pro. I don't expect the 12" to see the light of day though.
