Apple Plans 15-Inch MacBook Air for 2023 and New 12-Inch Laptop

Apple just released the M2, a new generation of its custom chip family. As well as a slew of updated laptops, including the new MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro. The rumor mill continues to spin despite the fact that the keynote for WWDC 2022 has ended. More information about what’s next in Apple’s pipeline has recently surfaced. And several of the items are likely to sound familiar.

According to rumors, Apple is developing a new, 15-inch MacBook Air that will be larger. As well as a smaller 12-inch notebook for late 2023 or early 2024.

Mark Gurman’s latest Bloomberg report, updated its 14-inch and 16-inch M2-based MacBook Pros. That could ship at the end of this year or in early 2023, based on his sources. These will be equipped with M2 Max chips. Which adds 12 CPU cores and up to 38 GPU cores to their highest-end predecessor’s 10 CPU cores and 32 GPU cores.

The note that says we should expect to see the first-ever 15-inch MacBook Air as soon as next spring is where it gets interesting. Then there’s a new 12-inch laptop in the works, which could arrive late next year or early in 2024. New versions of the Mac Pro and Mac Mini, as well as the next-generation M3 chips, are reportedly still being tested. If these rumors are true, Apple’s laptop lineup will be quite crowded in a few years.

The 15-inch MacBook Air would be designed similarly to the current 13.6-inch model, with the tapered frame that has been used on the MacBook Air for years removed. Apple is also developing a 12-inch MacBook Air to complement the 15-inch MacBook Air, though the name of the smaller machine is unknown. Apple has not offered a 12-inch notebook since the 12-inch Retina MacBook, which has since been discontinued.

The MacBook Air is also expected to grow in size. According to Gurman, Apple plans to release the largest MacBook Air model to date as early as spring 2023. Apple appears to have previously shelved an earlier 15-inch MacBook Air model in order to concentrate on the 13.6-inch model unveiled earlier this week at Apple’s 2022 developer conference. According to Gurman’s report, Apple is also working on a new 12-inch laptop that will be released in 2023 or early 2024. Since the 12-inch MacBook was phased out in 2019, this would be Apple’s smallest laptop. 

New high-end MacBook Pros are expected to hit the market in late 2022, as expected. These notebooks will most likely be powered by upgraded versions of the M2 chipset. Dubbed the M2 Pro and M2 Max. Since this product line was rebuilt, limited modifications are expected aside from the new processor.

The new Air Model will have a 15.2-inch display without ProMotion or Mini LED technology, according to to display analyst Ross Young. Young continues by stating that a 14.1-inch iPad Pro with a Mini LED/ProMotion display is currently in the works. 

It was the first Apple laptop to include the infamous ‘Butterfly’ keyboard. With its low-key travel, as well as a fanless design and a single USB-C port. It’s possible that the new 12-inch laptop will adopt a more modern design. It’s worth noting that Apple did, at one point, sell an 11-inch MacBook Air.

Apple finally revealed its M2-powered MacBook Air at WWDC 2022. Along with the new chip, the laptop ditches its wedge-shaped design in favor of a flatter. More MacBook Pro (2021)-like appearance, as well as reduced display bezels.