New 15-inch MacBook expected in 2023, 12-inch model questionable

MacBook AIr

Apple is planning on releasing a new 15-inch MacBook model, likely to be a MacBook Air with an M2 chip in mid- or late-2023, according to Ming-Chi Kuo.

In a tweet on Wednesday, Kuo said that the 15-inch portable Mac would go into mass production by the middle of the first half of 2023. He added that it could offer two CPU options: an M2 with a 35W power adapter or an M2 Pro with a 67W adapter. Both of those are current options for the 13-inch MacBook Air unveiled at WWDC 2022.

Although Kuo didn't specify the device's naming, the analyst's tweet is referring to rumors of a 15-inch MacBook Air. Ross Young, a display analyst with an excellent track record, first forecast a 15-inch MacBook Air earlier in 2022.

Prediction updates:
1. New 15" MacBook would go to mass production in mid-1H23, and launch date may be 2Q23 or later.
2. New 15" MacBook may offer two CPU options, M2 (with 35W adapter) & M2 Pro (with 67W adapter).
3. I haven't heard of any plans for rumored 12" MacBook yet. https://t.co/zm09nMvG7R
— (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) June 15, 2022

Bloomberg also corroborated the report, indicating that Apple was indeed developing a wider version of its newest MacBook Air model alongside a refresh of a 12-inch MacBook form factor. The publication noted that Apple was seeking to expand the number of notebooks in its lineup to grab more of the portable PC market share.

Kuo adds that he hasn't heard any rumors about a 12-inch MacBook refresh. That lines up with another prediction from Young, who claimed that his supply chain sources have yet to hear about any 12-inch MacBook plans.

Previously, Kuo confirmed the existence of a new 15-inch MacBook but suggested that it might not be dubbed a MacBook Air. He did note that the device may use the same 30W power adapter as the current MacBook Air.