New 15-inch MacBook Air will have two M2 options, says Kuo

Backing up a new claim that the forthcoming 15-inch MacBook Air will no longer have the M3 processor, Ming-Chi Kuo says it's going to be offered with M2 options — but not M2 Pro.

Following many rumors that the 15-inch MacBook Air would be based around the M3, a new supply chain leak suggested that Apple had postponed that idea. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo backs that idea, but adds more about the specific M2 processors — and the device's launch date.

[Prediction update and revision]

1. The new 15" MacBook model should be named MacBook Air.
2. To reiterate, the upcoming 15" MacBook Air will feature the M2 series and offer two processor spec options. However, two options are more likely to be M2 with different cores (similar https://t.co/Co4YJhbXO3
— (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) April 20, 2023

Kuo previously predicted that there would be two processor options, but believed one might be the M2 Pro. His latest tweet continues by saying that the two M2 processor options will vary by how many cores they have, "similar to the M2 13-inch MacBook Air."

He says Apple expects to ship between five and six million of the new 15-inch MacBook Air.

Separately, Kuo says he expects that mass production of the M3 processor is due to begin in the second half of 2023, "slightly ahead of M3 Pro and M3 Max."

Kuo does not give a date for when the 15-inch MacBook Air will be released, beyond it being in 2023. The most likely of the many conflicting rumors about a release date seem to suggest that it made be released in June.

12 Comments

Skeptical 183 comments · 8 Years

About 1 year ago

Wait!!! No maybe, or possibly? He is actually going to unzip his fly and make a real prediction. Oh happy day.

9secondkox2 3128 comments · 8 Years

So… M2 is a choice… but it seems kinda lame at this juncture. M2 launched a year prior.

But… it’s meant to be a “cheap” 15” mass market notebook and so an M2 would fit that price point. This isn’t a game-changing laptop in terms of capabilities or tech or design. It’s just an Air with a bit more screen.

M3 will likely launch with the updated baby iMac since it skipped m2 entirely. That would have more impact. Perhaps a “one more thing?”

TSMC has been mass producing 3nm chips for Apple since late last year. With the improved yields as they’ve gotten a better handle on the process, That should be enough lead time to cover iPhone and Mac. Then Pro/Max/Ultra/Super Duper in early ‘24 (but not-so-secretly praying for late ‘23).

Good times.

docno42 3761 comments · 16 Years

I hope they offer one with at least 32GB of RAM. I love my 16" MacBook Pro - except for the weight. If I could get an Air with a decent amount of RAM - woo hoo!

CapnDirk 1 comment · 1 Year

I like my MacBook Pro 13" with M1 and 16 GB RAM - besides screen size. So I would jump to a 15" MacBook Air if it's affordable and has similar or little more power. MB Pro 14" and 16" are way too expensive for my use cases (internet, mail, documents, development of small SwiftUI apps, 3D printing, home videos etc.).

omasou 638 comments · 7 Years

docno42 said:

I hope they offer one with at least 32GB of RAM. I love my 16" MacBook Pro - except for the weight. If I could get an Air with a decent amount of RAM - woo hoo!

The messed up the MacPro line in both portability and aesthetics by attempting to hit some on-battery usage target that most users will never need unless locked in a bunker w/o an electrical socket. As it is today, it is not "portable" it's a boat anchor.

Really hoping they "fix" the MacPro line by using a new lighter battery tech or simply by decreasing the battery size, sculpt the case so it doesn't look like some bland run of the mill Dell laptop and drop the legacy ports and add a 4th TB port. If not, I too may look to a MacBook Air as long as I can drive my 2x5K monitors and have the performance I need.