Rumors picked up again this week that a new15 - column inch MacBook Airwill be Apple ’s next major Mac handout , possibly at WWDC , according to Mark Gurman ’s latest report . But whether we get it before , during , or after WWDC , this much is dead on target : It will instantly become Apple ’s perfect laptop computer .
That may seem like a stretch , but hear me out . take on the hearsay and our own assumption are true , the 15 - inch MacBook Air will be the idealistic laptop computer for closely every user with its compounding of size , processing power , and time value . The MacBook Air is already Apple ’s most popular laptop computer , and a 15 - in model would be the gem of the batting order . Here ’s why .
15-inch MacBook Air: The right size
Apple offer MacBooks in four different sizes : 13.3 inch ( 13 - inch MacBook Pro ) , 13.6 inches ( M2 MacBook Air ) , 14.2 inches ( MacBook Pro ) , and 16.2 in ( MacBook Pro ) . You ’d think that with those options it would be prosperous to find the size that fits just right-hand . But those sizes come with limitation and sacrifices that make the buying decision hard .
If you want a big screen , the obvious pick is the16 - in MacBook Pro , which has the biggest screen on a MacBook . But the big screen door means it ’s heavy – it count near 5 pounds ( over 2 kilograms ) . It might not sound like much , but if you ’re carry your laptop around for a full workday , the strain on your back and shoulder becomes noticeable over time .
The 16 - inch MacBook Pro is a tad too big and heavy .
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If you require the lightest MacBook available , your pick is the 13.6 - inchM2 MacBook Air , which weighs just 2.7 pounds ( 1.24 kilogram ) . That make it a featherweight compared to the 16 - inch MacBook Pro , but the compromise is a much smaller screen . If you ’re using pro apps or you ’re like me and have a gazillion dissimilar app windows clear at the same time , those three inches make a big difference .
Apple also extend two other 13 - inch laptop that are often overlooked : The 13.3 - inchM1 MacBook AirandM2 MacBook Pro . Both are base on old pattern that have comparatively gigantic black bezel that add together to the overall size . The M1 MacBook Air , which has a blind that ’s a smidge smaller than the M2 MacBook Air , actually weigh a scintilla more . Similarly , the 13 - inch MacBook Pro really has a expectant footmark than the 14 - column inch MacBook Pro despite being an inch minuscule and weighing a half - pound less .
As far as the firmness , Mark Gurmanreportsthat it will have a presentation as sharp as the 14 - inch professional but without the Pro features , such as ProMotion and HDR . But most people wo n’t see those deficiencies — they’ll only see a gorgeous display large enough for serious multitasking .
A 15 - inch MacBook Air instantly becomes the new angelical spot . The screen will be noticeably larger than the 13 - inch laptops , and while it surely wo n’t be as light as the current MacBook Air , it also wo n’t be as grievous as the 16 - inch MacBook Pro . When you ’re putting the 15 - inch MacBook Air in your bag , it should be a literal and figurative perfect fit .
15-inch MacBook Air: The right performance
Bloomberg report this week that the MacBook Air in testing has a processor ” on equation with ” the M2 in the 13 - inch MacBook Air . That ’s a great chip with fantastic performance , but there are also rumour that there could be an M2 Pro option like the Mac mini .
compare to the M2 chip in the 13 - inch MacBook Air , Apple ’s M2 Pro chip is 20 per centum faster in CPU and 30 percent quicker in GPU performance . former reports about the 15 - inch MacBook Air stated that Apple may offer an M2 Pro option , with an M2 standard configuration . If that ’s so , that ’s a immense rise over the current Air .
The public presentation gains may not sound like much , and most folks wo n’t feel the divergence in everyday use . But users whose work is information intensive need every bit of processing office they can get , and the boost from the M2 Pro can save a lot of time .
An M2 Pro in a MacBook Air would be an idealistic combination of processing office and portability .
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However , could Apple use its new M3 potato chip alternatively of an M2 Pro ? Arecent reportby Bloomberg ’s Mark Gurman say that Apple “ wants to put its Mac - grade mainframe on an one-year acclivity cycle like the A - serial chips in the iPhone , ” but it ’s probably a little too betimes for the M3 to arrive . Still , it ’s an intriguing notion .
The M3 will be Apple’sfirst chip made with the 3 nm die process , which allows for more transistors and better execution and power efficiency than the 5 nm mental process used with the M1 and M2 crisp . With 3 Land of Enchantment , the performance improvement could be even capital than the 20 percentage we saw from the M1 to the M2 .
So whether it has an M2 Pro now or an M3 Pro later on , the 15 - in atmosphere will be an exceedingly attractive alternative to the 14 - in MacBook Pro . Even if it has the same meat , the chip probably wo n’t be as fast as the 14 - inch MacBook Pro due to the Air ’s fanless design that throttles performance at in high spirits temperatures , and it wo n’t have as many ports or as much liquid ecstasy retentiveness either . But it will absolutely hit the dulcet spot when it come to force and functioning and for many hoi polloi will be even more attractive than the 14 - inch Pro .
15-inch MacBook Air: The right price
Apple ’s current MacBook lineup has a glaring price gap . There ’s the $ 999 M1 Air followed by the $ 1,199 M2 model and then the $ 1,299 13 - inch M2 MacBook Pro . Then you go all the way up to $ 1,999 for the 14 - column inch MacBook Pro . arrogate an M2 15 - column inch MacBook Air starts at $ 1,399 or $ 1,449 , it would slide the right way into the quad between Apple ’s Pro laptop .
Consider the BTO selection . you’re able to get an M2 Air with 16 GB of memory board and a 512 GB SSD for $ 1,699 , just $ 300 less than the base model 14 - column inch MacBook Pro with an M2 Pro , and the same computer storage and storage . A few hundred dollar sign draw you a heavier laptop computer with a slightly larger projection screen and slimly faster performance . It ’s either price or carrying into action — and there are cleared forfeit no matter which machine you clean .
But a 15 - inch MacBook Air with an M2 Pro could slot right into that interruption at $ 1,849–$150 more than the Air and $ 150 less than the Pro . Of course , the Pro still has a higher-ranking Liquid Retina XDR show and more ports , but the decision there is easier . If you want a larger screen but do n’t involve ProMotion or HDMI , the 15 - inch Air is the obvious selection and the clear victor .
