Rumors clash over new MacBook Air release date

A new rumor confusingly suggests either a much later release for the 15-inch MacBook Air than expected, or a far-earlier Apple Silicon M3 release than previously predicted.

Rumors surrounding a larger MacBook Air have been increasing in frequency in recent months, but nailing down a launch window hasn't been easy. Recent consensus place the release for that 15-inch MacBook Air in April 2023 — but a new rumor has contradicted this window.

A new report from 9to5Mac references unnamed, independent sources concerning the unannounced product and its processor choice. According to the sources, Apple is working on a new generation MacBook Air that comes in two sizes and will be announced simultaneously.

These new laptops would use the M3 processor, and in a seemingly unrelated rumor, Apple is also expected to place that same M3 in an updated 13-inch MacBook Pro. The report states the 13-inch MacBook Air, codenamed J513, is already in the works, and the 15-inch MacBook Air is codenamed J515.

No timing was provided by the sources beyond both sizes arriving at the same time. However, Monday's report speculates they will release in the second half of 2023 or during WWDC in June.

April is too soon for Apple Silicon M3

Let's examine these rumors separately, as they all suggest different things.

A generally accurate supply chain source, Ross Young, has suggested the 15-inch MacBook Air would arrive in spring 2023, multiple times, then again in a tweet on Monday specifying April. Also, the M3 processor is expected to be built with the 3nm process, which isn't expected to enter mass production until later in 2023.

So, it is highly unlikely that a MacBook Air launching in the first half of 2023 will use M3. From another angle, the 13-inch MacBook Air was updated with M2 and a redesign in July 2022, which would mark a very fast turnaround if a new model launched soon.

Until Monday evening's rumor, there have been no indications that the 13-inch MacBook Air would be updated alongside a 15-inch MacBook Air release.

The 13-inch MacBook Air was updated with M2 in July 2022

So, given the awkward release timing, it doesn't seem likely that Apple will announce the M2 MacBook Air in 2023 alongside a new 15-inch model — all with M3 processors. These rumors directly contradict other numerous reports pointing to early 2023 for a 15-inch MacBook Air launch.

Also, Apple updating the 13-inch MacBook Pro with M3 is possible but seems unlikely given the other new products launching in 2023. It is the last product with a Touch Bar still in use and hasn't gotten any physical updates since Apple Silicon was introduced in 2020.

Rumors haven't pointed to a 13-inch MacBook Pro refresh with M3 at all, so this one stands on its own. Given the unknown nature of the source and the questionable nature of the MacBook Air rumors presented above, it throws this into question as well.

Apple is expected to continue its M2 processor rollout with the M2 Ultra and the Mac Studio sometime soon, if Apple chooses to update the product. The M3 will follow later, but its release window remains in question as we await news of a Mac Pro running Apple Silicon.

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6 Comments

wood1208 2930 comments · 10 Years

About 1 year ago

In 2023, 13.6" and 15" MBA will be M3 based and released around the Back to School season, WWDC23.

macuserosu 56 comments · 6 Years

wood1208 said:

In 2023, 13.6" and 15" MBA will be M3 based and released around the Back to School season, WWDC23.

Exactly. It seems these leakers are living in fantasy land. If a 15” is in development it will most likely be released in the fall with the M3 across the full Air lineup. While Apple has done some short upgrade cycles, it is extremely unlikely they will release an 15” Air to update the 13” Air this fall. If they did, I would actually suspect Apple moving to more of a 2-year cycle which is closer to when people are willing to upgrade.

Here is my predictions, so we can see how good of guessing I am compared to these leakers.

1. M3 Ultra/Extreme will be released along side the new Mac Pro and AR headset at WWDC.
2. New Airs released with the M3 in the Fall.
3. New MBP with M3 Pro/Max in the summer of 2024.

mattinoz 2473 comments · 9 Years

macuserosu said:

wood1208 said:

In 2023, 13.6" and 15" MBA will be M3 based and released around the Back to School season, WWDC23.

Exactly. It seems these leakers are living in fantasy land. If a 15” is in development it will most likely be released in the fall with the M3 across the full Air lineup. While Apple has done some short upgrade cycles, it is extremely unlikely they will release an 15” Air to update the 13” Air this fall. If they did, I would actually suspect Apple moving to more of a 2-year cycle which is closer to when people are willing to upgrade.

Here is my predictions, so we can see how good of guessing I am compared to these leakers.

1. M3 Ultra/Extreme will be released along side the new Mac Pro and AR headset at WWDC.
2. New Airs released with the M3 in the Fall.
3. New MBP with M3 Pro/Max in the summer of 2024.

Makes me wonder if there won't be an A17 but just the M3 released at the time with some cores dedicated to Cellular functionality in some devices. ie iMac all core computing. ie MacBookAir / iPad Data only cellular has 2 dedicated GPU cores and 2 Performance cores, iPhonePro 4GPU 2 Cores
So Apple only need the minimal amount of dedicated Cellular hardware in the chip to have an inhouse cellular solution.

In that case they'd be aligning their 12month cycles even if people only upgrade every 2 - 3 years they all sort of even out to create year on year revenue. 3 events periods a year October Mx bump, Mx Max die Machines, and Mx Max die stacking Machines with WWDC.

AlexisBenton 2 comments · 1 Year

Thanks for the info :)

rooby 1 comment · 1 Year

Also, the M3 processor is expected to be built with the 3nm process, which isn't expected to enter mass production until later in 2023.
TSMC actually started manufacturing 3nm in December 2022. The manufacturing that is scheduled to start later in 2023 is for the second gen, revised 3nm.
So if Apple is using first gen 3nm, then maybe they can deliver in 2nd quarter 2023.