Again in July 2023, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that Apple might launch an replace to the 13-inch MacBook Air this fall. Nonetheless, he has since modified his prediction, suggesting that we may very well be ready till the spring or summer season of 2024 for a brand new MacBook Air.
When Gurman made his preliminary forecast we had been stunned that he didn’t point out the 15-inch MacBook Air, which Apple launched in June 2023. It might be curious if each Macs weren’t on the identical replace schedule. Now it appears to be like like Apple could also be holding again the M3 model of the 13-inch MacBook Professional to launch later, alongside the M3 15-inch MacBook Air.
Within the meantime, at an Apple occasion on October 30, we might see a brand new M3 13-inch MacBook Professional, M3 iMac and perhaps even an M3 Mac mini. It might be uncommon for the MacBook Air to not be up to date at that occasion, as it’s anticipated to get the identical M3 chip as these different Macs, however the indications appear to be that it received’t function.
Right here’s all the pieces it’s essential to know in regards to the subsequent technology MacBook Air, together with the most recent rumors, hypothesis based mostly on present info and Apple’s historical past, and confirmed information.
M3 MacBook Air: Launch date
In July 2023, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that Apple was planning a second fall launch, maybe at an October occasion that “might function the primary Macs with M3 chips”. He talked about the 13-inch MacBook Air, together with the 13-inch MacBook Professional and the iMac as the primary machines to get the M3. The present M2 13-inch MacBook Air was launched in July 2022, which might imply that an October M3 improve would come about 15 months after the M2 model hit the market.
Nonetheless, Apple launched the 15-inch MacBook Air with M2 in June 2023. An replace to the 15-inch MacBook Air simply 4 months later can be uncommon and invitations the query of why Apple launched the 15-inch mannequin at WWDC and didn’t simply wait till the M3 mannequin might launch. Apple might ignore the 15-inch MacBook Air and replace it to M3 someday after the 13-inch mannequin is up to date, however this will probably be a complicated proposition to shoppers who received’t need to spend extra on the much less highly effective mannequin so as to profit from the bigger display screen. The one purpose to not replace each fashions on the identical time can be to present the 15-inch MacBook Air an replace to the M3 Professional, however we predict that’s unlikely.
It’s not shocking then that Gurman appears to have now backtracked on this. In an October e-newsletter, he wrote: “These ready for a brand new MacBook Air will probably want to carry on a bit longer. I’m instructed that the 13-inch and 15-inch M3 fashions have simply reached the EVT stage, or engineering verification take a look at, which might put them on schedule for between spring and summer season of subsequent 12 months on the earliest.” See: Apple’s M3 Mac roadmap will get clearer.
On this foundation, we count on the MacBook Air replace will occur within the spring or at WWDC in June 2024. Apple will replace each MacBook Air fashions on the identical time.
M3 MacBook Air: Worth
When Apple launched the M2 15-inch MacBook Air in June, the corporate lowered the value of the 13-inch mannequin by $100/£100. Apple might use the M3 improve as a chance to boost the value again to $1,199, however we count on it to stay on the identical value, at the very least within the U.S.
Apple might cut back costs within the U.Ok. and different markets outdoors the U.S. after it raised costs again in 2022 in relation to trade fee fluctuations (in September the corporate lowered the pricing of iPhones to take into accounts foreign money fluctuations).
The M3 13-inch MacBook Air’s value and specs will probably observe that of the present M2 13-inch MacBook Air or be shut. On your reference, listed here are the costs and specs of the M2 13-inch MacBook Air normal configurations:
- 13-inch, M2 chip with 8-core CPU/8-core GPU, 8GB of reminiscence, 256GB SSD: $1,099/£1,149
- 13-inch, M2 chip with 8-core CPU/10-core GPU, 8GB of reminiscence, 512GB SSD: $1,399/£1,449
- 15-inch, M2 chip with 8-core CPU/10-core GPU, 8GB of reminiscence, 512GB SSD: $1,299/£1,399
- 15-inch, M2 chip with 8-core CPU/10-core GPU, 8GB of reminiscence, 512GB SSD: $1,499/£1,599
We’re hopeful that the U.Ok. costs will fall again to the equal greenback value, so £1,099 and £1,399, for instance.
Apple additionally sells the 13-inch MacBook Air M1 for a similar $999/£999 because it price when it launched in October 2020. It’s potential that Apple will discontinue the M1 MacBook Air whereas decreasing the value of the M2 mannequin to $999 when the M3 arrives.
The M3 13-inch MacBook Air will probably be obtainable via the standard shops as soon as it goes on sale: the Apple Retailer, Amazon, and different well-liked retailers. Yow will discover the very best costs for a brand new MacBook Air in our MacBook Air offers article.
M3 MacBook Air: Design
When Apple launched the M2 13-inch MacBook Air, it additionally gave it a whole redesign for the primary time. It eradicated the tapered design and applied a standard look that’s much like the 14-inch MacBook Professional.
An M3 13-inch MacBook Air may have the identical design as the present M2 mannequin.
IDG
As a result of this new design has been via just one technology of the Air, we don’t count on Apple to vary a lot with the M3 improve. That’s high-quality as a result of it’s already one of many thinnest and lightest you should buy:
- 15-inch MacBook AIr M2: 13.40 x 9.35 x 0.45in (34.04 x 23.76 x 1.15cm), 2.8 kilos (1.51kg)
- 13-inch MacBook Ai M2: 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44in (30.41 x 21.5 x 1.13cm), 2.7 kilos (1.24kg)
- 13-inch MacBook Air M1: 11.97 x 8.36 x 0.16-0.63in (30.41 x 21.24 x 0.41-1.61cm), 2.8 kilos (1.29kg)
M3 MacBook Air: Show
The M3 MacBook Air will probably use the identical show as these on the M2 mannequin. For the 13-inch MacBook Air Apple makes use of a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina show with a 2,560-by-1,664 pixel decision, a most brightness of 500 nits, P3 shade help, and True Tone, a step up from those used within the M1 13-inch MacBook Air and the 13-inch MacBook Professional, which use a 13.3-inch Retina shows with a decision of two,560 by 1,600 pixels. The M1 Air’s show brightness is 400 nits, whereas the 13-inch Professional is at 500 nits.
Nonetheless, change may very well be on the best way within the type of new mini-LEDs that may be brighter than the present ones, however extra importantly, use much less battery a the present brightness ranges. These are, in keeping with DigiTimes, coming to the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Professional, however it’s possible Apple might use them for the subsequent technology MacBook Air.
The M3 MacBook Air can even probably preserve the notch on the prime of the show for the 1080p FaceTime digital camera, which doesn’t intervene with the 16:10 side ratio of the display screen space under it.
Connecting an exterior show is completed via one of many M3 MacBook Air’s Thunderbolt ports. The laptop computer can drive one exterior show with as much as 6K decision at 60Hz. If it’s essential to join extra shows, you’ll be able to strive a workaround that includes third-party {hardware} and software program.
M3 MacBook Air: Colours
Apple will probably provide the M3 MacBook Air in the identical 4 colours because the M2 mannequin: Midnight, Silver, House Grey, and Starlight. There have been rumors for years that Apple is planning to launch MacBook Air colours that match the iMac’s colourful enclosure, however they haven’t come to cross.
M3 MacBook Air: Specs
In August 2023, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman noticed developer logs with core configurations for the M3 collection, which point out that the M3 may have 8 CPU cores (4 efficiency, 4 effectivity) and 10 GPU cores.
Each the M1 and M2 have eight CPU cores, and the M2 begins with 8 GPU cores and is configurable to 10, so it appears to be like just like the M3 will observe go well with.
This new chip may look much like the predecessor, however the M3 chip is rumored to be manufactured utilizing a brand new 3nm course of. This enables for extra transistors than in comparison with the improved 5nm course of used with the M2. This might permit the M3 to be quicker than the 20 % enhance we regularly see with a brand new technology of chips. Study extra in regards to the M3.
Each the M1 and M2 began with 8GB of unified reminiscence, which is what we’ll in all probability see with the M3. The M2 is configurable to 24GB of reminiscence, which might improve to 32GB with the M3. Gurman claims that Apple could also be altering the unified reminiscence configurations, with 36GB and 48GB exhibiting up in testing. 48GB can be a brand new configuration, reserved for the M3 Professional and Max, however it might imply we see 36GB with the M3.
The MacBook Air doesn’t have any inside followers and we don’t count on that to vary. Whereas the fanless design might trigger the M2 Air to decelerate throughout CPU or GPU hundreds, nevertheless, the M3’s larger effectivity might assist high-end efficiency.
The MacBook Air has a MagSafe port that helps quick charging.
Apple
The MacBook Air has two Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports, a MagSafe 3 connector for an influence adapter (the laptop computer can be charged via Thunderbolt), and a headphone jack. If Apple provides extra ports, it’s prone to simply be an additional USB-C port.
The present Air has Wi-Fi 6 wi-fi connectivity. After Apple introduced Wi-Fi 6E to the Mac mini and MacBook Professional, it’s prone to carry it to the subsequent MacBook Air, too.
M3 MacBook Air: Battery and charging
The M2 13-inch MacBook Air has a 52.6-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery, whereas the 15-inch mannequin gives a 66.5-watt-hour battery, and the upcoming M3 fashions will in all probability have the identical measurement battery.
Nonetheless, the M3 could also be extra energy environment friendly than the M2, which might end in prolonged battery life. Presently, Apple charges its Air battery with “as much as 18 hours Apple TV app film playback, and “as much as 15 hours wi-fi internet,” and people numbers may very well be longer with the M3 Air.
For charging, we count on the identical choices as the present Air. The $1,099/£1,149 M2 13-inch MacBook Air contains an ordinary 30W USB-C Energy Adapter. The $1,399/£1,449 mannequin has a 35W Twin USB-C Port Compact Energy Adapter for charging two units on the identical time. A USB-C to MagSafe 3 energy cable is included with both mannequin. The 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air additionally help quick charging with a 70W USB-C Energy Adapter or one other from our checklist of the greatest MacBook Air chargers.
