Apple CEO Tim Prepare dinner teased a new product announcement this week, sharing a brief video that claims “there’s one thing within the Air.” Based mostly on the “Air” wording and the timing of the launch, it appears like we’ll get new M4 MacBook Air fashions.
Design
Apple will proceed to supply the MacBook Air in two sizes, together with 13 inches and 15 inches. We aren’t anticipating notable design updates, and there have been no rumors of a brand new look.
The upcoming M4 MacBook Air fashions will doubtless look similar to the present fashions, as Apple doesn’t refresh the design of the machines tremendous typically. The final MacBook Air design refresh got here in 2022, so it is solely been three years.
Show
Apple makes use of mini-LED show know-how for the MacBook Professional, however that is prone to keep a premium characteristic. We’re anticipating the MacBook Air to proceed to make use of the identical Liquid Retina Show know-how (aka LED) as the present mannequin.
With the current MacBook Professional refresh, Apple added a nano-texture matte show improve possibility. It is doable we might see the identical possibility provided for the MacBook Air, but it surely’s no assure as a result of that additionally may stay a premium possibility.
M4 Chip
We have already seen the M4 chip in a number of merchandise, together with the MacBook Professional, iMac, iPad Professional, and Mac mini, so it will not be a shock when it is added to the MacBook Air.
The M4 chip has as much as a 10-core CPU and a 10-core GPU, together with a 16-core Neural Engine. It is constructed on TSMC’s upgraded 3-nanometer course of, and was designed with Apple Intelligence in thoughts. The M4 will outperform the M3 chip, but it surely will not be a stunning improve. We are able to anticipate modest enhancements in CPU and GPU, with enhancements as much as 25 p.c.
RAM
The MacBook Air’s RAM now begins at 16GB as a substitute of 8GB, a change that Apple made final yr. We aren’t anticipating any modifications right here, and the brand new MacBook Air machines can even begin with 16GB RAM.
Battery Life
With the effectivity enhancements introduced by the M4 chip, the MacBook Air might see battery life features. The 14-inch M4 MacBook Professional, for instance, lasts for as much as 24 hours when streaming video or 16 hours when shopping the net.
FaceTime Digicam
Apple up to date the MacBook Professional with a 12-megapixel front-facing digital camera, and it is doable we’ll get the identical replace with the MacBook Air. The digital camera helps Middle Stage, a characteristic for FaceTime and different video apps that’s designed to maintain you focused in a video chat at the same time as you progress across the room.
The digital camera can even doubtless help Desk View, which supplies an overhead view of your desk so you are able to do demonstrations.
Thunderbolt Ports
Present MacBook Air fashions have two Thunderbolt 3 ports, however the next-generation fashions might get three Thunderbolt 4 ports, which might be an improve for each velocity and connectivity.
The brand new MacBook Professional fashions help as much as two exterior shows when the gadget’s lid is open, and the MacBook Air ought to have the identical specs.
Pricing
The M3 MacBook Air is priced beginning at $1,099, and there aren’t any pricing modifications rumored.
M2 MacBook Air Discontinuation
Apple nonetheless sells a MacBook Air with an M2 chip, and it is priced beginning at $999. It is doable the M2 MacBook Air will get discontinued with an M3 MacBook Air taking its place, although Apple might choose to maintain the M2 mannequin round if upgrading to M3 chips would make the machine too costly.
Different “Air” Merchandise?
It is the M4 MacBook Air that is able to launch imminently, however Apple might additionally shock us. There are, in any case, a number of Apple merchandise with “Air” within the identify, a few of that are due for an replace.
The iPad Air is about to be up to date this spring, for instance, and the AirTags are going to get a refresh in some unspecified time in the future in 2025.
Apple’s Announcement
Apple would not appear to be planning for a spring occasion this yr, and the iPhone 16e was introduced by way of press launch and accompanying movies. We’re anticipating the identical launch process for the MacBook Air, with the gadget set to come back out as quickly as tomorrow.
