Apple is working on a 15-inch MacBook Air, report claims.
Apple might be working on an affordable, 15-inch MacBook
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| Something like this, only bigger. Credit: Apple |
Apple might be launching a new 15-inch laptop — possibly a 15-inch MacBook Air — next year.
According to a report by Display Supply Chain Consultants (via 9to5Mac), the company is planning to release a laptop with a screen size of about 15 inches, while the current, 13.3-inch MacBook Air will also be slightly increased (though it will stay at 14 inches or below).
The report also claims Apple is working on an entry-level iPad with a "slightly larger" display."
There are no other details about the specifications of either device.
A 15-inch MacBook Air is an interesting proposition, especially given previous evidence that Apple planned to launch such a device at one point. It would likely be a hit with students and everyone who needs a larger MacBook at an affordable price point.
Apple currently sells a 14-inch and a 16-inch MacBook Pro, but those start from $1,999 and $2,499, respectively, while the 13.3-inch MacBook Air starts at $1,299.
The report was corroborated by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo on Twitter, with one key difference: Kuo doesn't think this new device will be called "MacBook Air." He says, however, that this laptop will likely use "the same 30W power adapter as MacBook Air," and that mass production is planned for the last quarter of 2023.
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ReplyDeleteApple and affordable these two words can't get fit in one sentence ;D
ReplyDeleteYeah and 200€ charger
ReplyDeleteI wonder what Apple considers to be affordable lol
ReplyDeleteStill an expensive paper weight
ReplyDeleteApple usually works on Apple computer
ReplyDeleteApple affordability starts from Rs. 60,000
ReplyDeleteMakes sense. MacBook Air should be the smallest, thinnest, and lightest. MacBook should be bigger and more powerful than air. MacBook Pro should be even more powerful and bigger than that, although the 14 inch MacBook Pro would actually be smaller than 15 inch MacBook. However, the 16 inch would be bigger, obviously.
ReplyDeleteWell, the MacBook I’m still using was the lightest, thinnest and smallest. So the line up would be: MB, MB air and MB pro. Makes sense also.
DeleteWho cares just release the new air… or whatever you call it! Let’s go; I’m tired of waiting!!
ReplyDeleteThese people do not have any sources on this, they are just WAG-ing…
ReplyDeleteKuo these days is sounding really off.
ReplyDeleteI’m calling it now….
ReplyDeleteMacBook Studio
Call it a loaf of bread for all I care. I'm buying Day 1.
ReplyDeleteI’m right there with you. Second in line. :)
DeleteDitching the tapered design and adding a 15-inch option makes the “Air” name seem less fitting. Would not be surprised to see both the 13-inch and 15-inch just called “MacBook”, with the 15-inch basically assuming the role that the base model 13-inch Pro currently does (plugging the price gap between 13-inch consumer and 14-inch Pro). Also means they can keep the current Air around as an affordable option, particularly for education customers, and not have two concurrent designs called “Air”.
ReplyDeleteMacBook Air (M1) - $999
MacBook (M2, 13-inch) - $1,199/1,299
MacBook (M2, 15-inch) - $1,399/1,499
MacBook Pro (14-inch) - $1,999
MacBook Pro (16-inch) - $2,499
I don’t think most people would expect a 15-inch notebook to be called Air regardless.
ReplyDeleteMacBook Unicorn. Until I can order one on the Apple site, it's still a mythical creature to me ;)
ReplyDelete"Apple seemingly forgot to look at the other side. People may want a large screen without needing beefy processing power"
ReplyDeleteI've been complaining about Apple's strategy for years in regards to screen to power ratio, and it goes two ways: i might want a large screen and little power, or i might want a small form factor and a lot of power (hello iPhone mini!!).
I keep saying the same thing. It upsets me that in order to buy something with a bigger screen I am forced to pay PRO tax! this starts with iPhone - where is 6.7" non PRO model, or basic iPad with 12.9, or now iMac? I want 27" iMac with the same guts as 23.5" iMac without paying extra $500 more for Studio Monitor and mac mini m1 combo vs previous low end 27" iMac. Both my wife and I could also use 15-16" Macbook air - we both havem base MBA M1 13" and as we get older, bigger screen would be amazing, but I dont see us buying 16" MBP for $2.5k each just to get more screen, but we are willing to pay $200-300 more for bigger macbook air.
DeleteYou are in same category as those iPhone mini users = LOW sales
DeleteMany many people want a big screen without a top-end camera or latest-gen processor. In fact, I'd say so many people would buy this phone that Apple's margins would go down (as Apple couldn't legitimately say that phone was worth north of $1000).
DeleteSo the product is not sold and big-phone-buyers need to get the expensive Max.
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ReplyDeleteGlad that this seems to be the direction they are going, though too bad it seems to be next year.
ReplyDeleteBesides myself, my wife, and our parents would all benefit from a 15" thin MacBook Air. For being a portable Mac the power is excellent. In fact, I'd rather have a Studio as a desktop and a 15" Air than a MacBook Pro 16" that has to be docked (hiding the expensive screen much of the time!)... so I guess Apple could get two computers out of me. :P
I could see the pro screens having the promotion, the HDR, the mini-led array, but the consumer devices staying with just retina.
FYI using an MBP as a desktop mode does not mean "has to be docked (hiding the expensive screen much of the time!)." The MBP can be left open and the MBP display also used. There is no reason not to continue to use the MBP screen real estate.
DeleteI do that with 3 external 4K displays added. I have been using external displays with MBPs for many years and have never considered wasting the screen real estate by closing the display. And IMO the MBP cools better with the display open.
Yes, I see people mentioning this assumption that you would “of course” use your laptop in clamshell mode. That seems crazy to me. On the desk, I use the laptop screen for communications (Email/slack) and use an external monitor for documents. Why hide away that great, and expensive, screen?
DeleteMy attorney dad uses a 16" MacBook Pro, not because he needs the processing power and discrete graphics (pre-M1), but because he can't see the damn screen. He needs it for billing, email, and word processing. A 15" macbook air would be a god-send.
ReplyDeleteIf they’re doing the 15 inch in colors too consider mine purchased.
ReplyDeleteWhen the MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and iPad all run on the M1 chipset, Apple needs to have better product differentiation.
ReplyDeleteIf screen size is not a reason to choose between them then what is? At least with the iPad, a touch screen makes a difference. For most users (as in most users that simply need mail, office, and a browser), even the OS is not a differentiator as long as their apps run on the OS. If you take away screen size, then why buy a Pro vs an Air vs an iPad.
Dude there's MUCH more to a product than just the processor... there are still tons of differences between the iPad and MacBooks. They're not even close. The M1 doesn't change anything there.
DeleteThe 13 inch MacBook Pro could still have a bigger battery, more ports, and maybe still a fan for better sustained performance. Maybe a better screen than the Air, too (ProMotion …).
DeleteThe 14 and 16 inch MacBook Pros already have these plus the better chips, therefore more RAM, and generally more upgrade options.
All great points. I think from a marketing perspective, Apple needs to figure this out and clearly articulate the markets and use cases for each line. I say this because right now it is looking like significant overlaps which can cause confusion for the consumers, especially for the less technical ones.
DeleteThe 13” MBP is the odd man out and will likely be replaced with something that makes more sense in the next 6-12 months.
DeleteThe rest do make sense. The Air is about portability and low price. The MBP is about functionality and performance.
IPads are best used a either simple, single-task stations or as browsing devices. This is mainly do to the limits of iPad OS.
I would appreciate the same idea with iPad. I bought the 2015 12.9” iPad on release a musician reading charts every night. I need the larger screen but I don’t need it to be the highest spec iPad. A large iPad Air would be perfect for myself and many users, as would the mentioned 15” MacBook Air.
ReplyDeleteMBAs with larger screens like 15/16" is a must! It's that simple.
ReplyDeleteI think I agree with the experts. I had a 15 inch MBP, but it was too big for most aircraft seats, and before I was a business traveler, 15 inches was unwieldly for classrooms and lecture halls too.
ReplyDeleteI can see increasing the MBA's screen size a little bit, but if the overall device is notably bigger and heavier than it just won't be right for me. Maybe a ≈14 inch display could work reasonably well.
That said, I agree that if Apple does make a larger MBA with no compromises, many people will buy them.
Smaller bezels and a lighter, thinner design is very possible, so you could get bigger screen with smaller size and weight (significantly). That's the hope anyway. :)
DeleteI have no idea what you're on about. I've had a 15" since 2012. Used throughout Uni, then while travelling the world for years. Hard disagree that it's 'too big' or 'unwieldy'.
DeleteYou are assuming that the 15” Air is the road warrior portable device. For others, it’s just the lowest price device. Most laptops in the category spend the majority of their time on desktops with only occasional use elsewhere. The larger size is a worthwhile compromise in that case.
DeleteI don't know about this. While I can see the benefit of a 15" MBA, it would have to be a $1,000 less than the 16" MBP.
ReplyDeleteI personally never understand this argument. For me a laptop's portability is the #1 most important attribute. I have never and will never buy a laptop larger than 13.3". If the specs are the same, but the screen is bigger then you are sacrificing portability with no added benefit. Not to mention that the same resolution generally looks works as the screen size increases. 2560x1600 is the same amount of workspace regardless if the screen is 11" or 100".
ReplyDeleteAll i want is a decent screen size, a few USB-A ports and the magsafe charger. And a M1 or better cpu.
ReplyDelete14-inches is the sweet spot for me.
ReplyDeleteIf it looked like that image at the top of the page it's an instant purchase for me!
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly the computer I want. I'm a lawyer, which in my case means that my computer usage is highly focused on word processing, PDF and web review, and occasional spreadsheets -- all very light stuff from a processing perspective. However, I almost always need to have multiple documents side-by-side, and my 13" MBP is terrible for that. Get me a big screen in a lightweight package and I'm all over that.
ReplyDeleteYes please.
ReplyDeleteI want a 16" MacBook Pro for the screen size. I don't need the power.
My one request is that they offer the M1 Pro as an option. I'd like to have more RAM to future proof the machine.
Surprise (/s) most posters here want a big cheap Mac laptop. No surprise, folks have wanted Apple to give them cheap Macs for years.
ReplyDeleteApple builds it brand with its product mix, and chasing the low end has never been part of Apple's brand. Clearly the extraordinary power of modern chips (M1-series is the extreme, but chips have provided more than enough power for most usages for many years) means relatively cheap Macs could be made, but placing one or more into the product lineup has huge implications for the brand.
Extending the lower end makes sense, but positioning a cheap Mac laptop with a 15"/16" display right against the top-end 16" MBP has complex risky branding ramifications. It definitely is not the easy-peasy decison most posters below seem to want it to be.
Most buyers are not heavily influenced by the tech details we here thrive on. If Apple is to offer a 15" MBA the product differentiation from MBPs will need to be visually readily apparent.
A 15” Air would be differentiated by price and performance from a 16” MBP. Customers who need the power of an MBP will understand the differences and will not be confused. Someone who doesn’t understand the different will probably not need the extra power and would be better served buy the lower price Air, anyway. Apple will price a 15” Air such that it will not steal too many sales from the MBP. Most people who are that price sensitive are already sticking with the 13” Air but are not satisfied. This gives them an option to up-sell.
DeleteGreat if they offered a larger screen size without forcing an upgrade to a “Pro” device. People can want more screen estate without needing an M1 Pro or Max chip.
ReplyDeleteIf their entry level silicon can power a 24” iMac, it should do just fine with 15”.
This sounds too good to be true. Everyone I know would choose this over all other options for their personal computers. I'm keeping my fingers crossed...
ReplyDeleteWHITE BEZELS can’t be perfect for anyone.
ReplyDeleteThey’re just fine
DeleteIn real life the screen appears brighter than the bezels anyway because it's actively emitting light. It's a non-issue. I know this because I have a 2021 iMac with white bezels and they fade completely out of view in real life usage.
DeleteYeah this is what I've been waiting forever for. I eventually bought a Surface Laptop 3 15", because Microsoft is the only company making this kind of product (thin, light, large, not focused on power users).
ReplyDeleteI just like the extra real estate, no matter what I'm working on. I set the highest resolution and use as much of the screen as I can - and it works for everything, spreadsheets, SQL Developer, even Word docs are easier with more space.
ReplyDeleteGive me a 15/16” MBA with M2 and 3 ports (1 MagSafe, 2 USB-C) and I’ll dump my way too heavy 2019 16” MBP right away.
ReplyDeleteThey should just drop the "MacBook Air" name and just call it "MacBook" in 13.3" and 15" sizes. And drop the unneeded MagSafe 3 charger, since the charging rate needed is well within the USB-IF Power Delivery 3.0 specification.
ReplyDeleteWrong. Y'all need to study up regarding branding.
DeleteA) Air has a useful brand position (built over years) that should not be foolishly thrown away.
B) MagSafe has real-world tech utility in addition to brand position that should not be foolishly wasted.
Given that all the MacBooks now use SSD storage, the "Air" name now is probably not needed anymore. I still prefer they just call it "MacBook" for the upcoming M2 models and "MacBook Pro" for the more higher-end models.
DeleteHow come you don’t work for Apple’s marketing team?
ReplyDeleteAnd their product engineering team, too!
Delete