Wesley Hilliard
Apple is expected to announce a new MacBook Air with the M2 processor and a colorful redesign during WWDC or in the second half of 2022. Here's everything we know about it so far.
When the M1 processor launched in late 2020 in three of Apple's popular computers, no design alterations were made to any of them. The MacBook Air has retained the same overall aesthetic since it was pulled out of an envelope in 2008, but that could change with the M2 model.
Like the 24-inch iMac redesign, the new MacBook Air is expected to take on a thinner, lighter chassis with a bright color scheme. The renders produced by AppleInsider showcase off-white bezels, a notched display, and a white keyboard.
The tapered case design has always been an iconic part of the MacBook Air, but its thinness was an illusion due to a convex slope that houses its internal components. Now, Apple may be able to fit everything into a case just wide enough to hold the Thunderbolt 4 ports.
The aluminum chassis might take on the more rounded shape of the 14-inch MacBook Pro design, but with color options. Apple is likely to mimic the 24-inch iMac colors with blue, green, pink, silver, yellow, orange, and purple hues.
The interior color would be slightly muted with white keys set in a color-matched aluminum basin. The bezel around the display is expected to be off-white and feature a notch for the camera housing.
Active leaker Jon Prosser has shared renders previously based on disassembled part images given to him. These renders show a chassis without a tapered case, which may be to ensure there's space for internal components in the thinner design.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believed Apple could add a mini-LED backlit display to the new MacBook Air, but later said this feature wasn't coming to the redesigned notebook. The 13.3-inch display would be the smallest MacBook with the technology, but Apple seems to treat mini LED as a pro feature for now.
Thanks to improved I/O, the M2 is said to allow the MacBook Air to have two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a MagSafe connector for charging. While it hasn't been confirmed, we expect the laptop will be able to drive multiple external displays, unlike the 2020 model.
The M2 is rumored to have better performance than the M1, but not the M1 Pro or M1 Max. It would likely have more technologies packed in, like the Media Engine and a faster Neural Engine.
The webcam may be 1080p and have an ultra-wide lens for Center Stage. This capability debuted in the iPad Pro and has yet to make it to any Mac models, but is available in the Studio Display.
After April's Apple Event, rumors began shifting to a later release window for the new MacBook Air. Mark Gurman says the release has slipped into the third or fourth quarter of 2022 with a possible announcement taking place at WWDC in June.
More evidence of a WWDC announcement has shown up as we get closer to the event. Developers have seen signs of a "next generation MacBook Air" running their apps. Gurman says this suggests a launch of the product is imminent, so it is possible the M2 and the new MacBook Air will be revealed at WWDC.
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
AppleInsider Staff
Chip Loder
Malcolm Owen
45 Comments
Is that two TB ports sharing the same limited power so you can’t run two unpowered external TB drives or will they fix this? Any work on fixing the limited write speeds of TB drives?
Haven’t seen any testing on M1Pro/Max showing faster external write speeds. Please, someone tell me this has been fixed.
Would be interested in colour choices, though for the M2 each individual core needs to be more capable. Adding more cores is not going to make much of a difference for applications that are inherently single threaded. The other thing is that if they release the MacBook Air before the new MacBook Pros, they risk hurting MBP sales.
I would be interested in what Apple feels is the current and future audience for the MBAirs. Is it evolving? There has been the faction of executive travelers who need light, relatively simple machines to carry around and do most work in the cloud. They don't need to edit 8k video, use PS, or have the need for lots of ports. They can afford to pay for the best, minimalistic tech and materials, but probably won't want a bright red laptop. Then there are the somewhat wealthier students or other consumers who also don't need much, but who might fit the old iBook type with colors and "just let me get online, do email and IG stuff."
I just bring this up because as the MBPro's get back to real pro features and multiple ports, and perhaps the MacBooks remain the somewhat clunkier, but reasonably priced mac laptop for most consumers - I really hope Apple can again differentiate their customers in a way that gives everyone options and continues to grow the ecosystem.
Of course, it might be that the MBAirs are just the laptop for those who really want an iPadPro, but can't give up on MacOS.