Apple plans thinner, high-end MacBook Air

A revamped MacBook Air will reportedly feature next-generation Apple Silicon, and a MagSafe charger, plus become both thinner and lighter.

Following previous claims that the MacBook Air will be revamped in 2022 with a mini LED screen, a new report says it will may be released sooner — and will feature a more substantial redesign. Alongside potential changes to the display, it's said that Apple will cut both the weight and size of its current lightest notebook.

According to Bloomberg, the new MacBook Air will not replace the current one, but rather fit into the lineup as a higher-end option.

It is expected to feature the next generation of Apple Silicon, and to be released in 2022. However, the publication claims that it is also possible that it will come out in the second half of 2021.

Reportedly, Apple has looked at reducing the size of the MacBook Air by retaining the current 13-inch display size yet reducing the bezels around it. It has also evaluated producing a 15-inch version, though the unnamed sources claim that Apple has decided against that for this version.

Bloomberg's report does not mention mini LED, but does follow a Ming Chi-Kuo prediction that Apple will reintroduce MagSafe to the Mac. Kuo only specified that it would be in the MacBook Pro models, however.

42 Comments

mjtomlin 20 Years · 2690 comments

About 3 years ago

I have a feeling the current M1 systems were a stop-gap solution using current designs to get them on the market and in users' hands as soon as possible. And that we have yet to see what is truly possible until Apple designs chassis specifically optimized for these new SoCs as far as thermals (and battery) are concerned.

Having two models of the MacBook Air makes sense, just as it does for every other Mac model. A newly designed higher end 14" model makes sense now (with stronger GPU performance) and then later in the year, possibly replacing the current 13" model with a smaller 12" model.

Also hoping that every new M1 variant is made available as upgrade options in the mini.

MacQuadra840av 4 Years · 207 comments

About 3 years ago

Jony Ive is gone...for good. Enough of the obsession on thin. What does a thinner MacBook translate to? It means less battery life and a lousy keyboard. Two things no one wants.

MacQuadra840av 4 Years · 207 comments

About 3 years ago

mjtomlin said:

I have a feeling the current M1 systems were a stop-gap solution using current designs to get them on the market and in users' hands as soon as possible.

No. They are not a stop-gap solution. Apple made the mistake of having the first M-based Macs be the most basic and low-cost models, instead of upgrading their most popular models first. You know, like they did with the first Intel Macs, the iMac and the 15" MacBook Pro.

buttesilver 6 Years · 41 comments

About 3 years ago

I have never heard anyone in the last three years wish for an even thinner MBP.
Give us battery, not another mm of Ive-ness please.

MplsP 8 Years · 4047 comments

About 3 years ago

MacQuadra840av said:

mjtomlin said:

I have a feeling the current M1 systems were a stop-gap solution using current designs to get them on the market and in users' hands as soon as possible.

No. They are not a stop-gap solution. Apple made the mistake of having the first M-based Macs be the most basic and low-cost models, instead of upgrading their most popular models first. You know, like they did with the first Intel Macs, the iMac and the 15" MacBook Pro.

I don’t think it was a mistake or a stopgap solution. The lower end models are generally used by people for whom performance is nice but not the absolute deciding factor, and for whom running some apps under Rosetta wouldn’t be a big deal.

As far as the form factor goes, the existing MacBooks were generally well designed and there were no glaring deficiencies, so keeping the same general design while updating the motherboard made perfect sense. How often does Apple seriously update the form factor of MacBooks anyway?

Moving forward, they can take the time to take full advantage of the new possibilities that the M1 processors allow.

As far as a thinner MBAir, I’m not sure what that would accomplish. The existing model is already pretty thin - so thin that it compromises their keyboard and leads to the keyboard leaving smudges on the screen. I agree with the others - I’d rather have better battery life then shave a millimeter off the thickness.