It’s been almost four years since Apple last introduced a 15-inch MacBook. This product, the MacBook Pro (2019), was only offered for six months. Rumor has it that Apple will once again be investigating a 15-inch device in the form of the now very likely 15-inch MacBook Air. So does size matter? And more specifically, for the average MacBook Air buyer, does size matter?
where things are
(Image credit: Karen S. Freeman / iMore)
The best Mac out there, the five-star M2 MacBook Air was released in 2022. It features an all-new look that replaces the wedge design of previous models and the return of MagSafe charging, essentially freeing up an additional Thunderbolt port from charging duties. Additionally, it’s a similar offering to the previous model that launched in 2020 – an entry point into Apple’s computing ecosystem, but one that retains a premium feel due to Apple’s exemplary industrial design. It’s expensive as entry points, but it’s also a fun one.
The rumor mill has it that the upcoming 15-inch MacBook Air could be identical to the M2 MacBook Air except for the display size. This design decision would align with what Apple is doing with the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models – more choice at different prices based on device size to cut through and provide the ability to meet all possible potential user needs “upsell” vary between a cheaper and a more expensive model. And yet I hope the rumors are false and that the 15-inch MacBook Air is much more than just an oversized version of the current model.
Although significant advances were made between the MacBook Air M1 and M2 models, some things stayed the same. Both models, for example, only offer up to 2TB of storage and feature an 8-core CPU (although the Apple silicon itself has seen a generational leap). And despite the larger display, the pixel counts of both models are roughly the same.
It has to be different
(Image credit: Karen S. Freeman / iMore)
So what should Apple do to set the 15-inch MacBook Air apart from the current MacBook Air? What, if anything, beyond screen real estate would justify bursting the size of Apple’s most portable laptop – considering the Air’s inherent portability is one of its main draws and reasons for existing in the first place?
Let’s start with the number of ports. Offering only two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports on a larger laptop doesn’t make much sense, so this number should be increased. For example, this could mean adding another Thunderbolt 4 port, or an HDMI port, or an SDXC card, like on the larger MacBook Pro models). The addition of a higher quality speaker system with Spatial Audio would also be a positive development given the larger chassis size, as would a larger trackpad.
Apple has taken the unfortunate step of capping storage on the latest MacBook Air at a maximum of 2TB. However, the company could increase this to between 2TB and 8TB on the newer model, which could match the options on the larger MacBook Pros.
And that leads to a catch-22: Ultimately, Apple needs to release a 15-inch MacBook Air that’s more “Air” than “Pro” in terms of both price and features.
It would also be nice to add a better display to the 15-inch MacBook Air, but that probably won’t happen. While we’d all like to see Apple maybe match the Liquid Retina XDR on the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, the increased cost would make that prohibitive.
And that leads to a catch-22: Ultimately, Apple needs to release a 15-inch MacBook Air that’s more “Air” than “Pro” in terms of both price and features. Unfortunately this will not be easy as there is less wiggle room when more models are involved. If Apple makes this model look too much like a MacBook Pro, sales of these higher-priced models could suffer. Make it look a lot like the existing MacBook Air (except for a larger screen), and buyers might decide it’s worth throwing more cash into the bargain and buying a MacBook Pro.
In other words, Apple risks creating a MacBook no-man’s-land where there are too many devices all competing for the same dime. And given the marketing, manufacturing, and design costs, it’s hard to imagine the company supporting all of these devices.
The end of the line?
This raises another question: is Apple planning to trim any of the existing MacBook models like the 13-inch MacBook Pro? Perhaps once the latest model (released in 2022) progresses through its release cycle.
Without changes beyond a larger display, I can’t see how a 15-inch MacBook Air would fit reasonably within the entire MacBook lineup. This lineup would be even more confusing for buyers who need to balance features and costs. That way, Apple could create a confused, potentially unsustainable MacBook landspace that’s good for no one.
We’ll know soon enough. Apple is likely to announce the new 15-inch MacBook Air ahead of the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June. Stay tuned.
Source: www.imore.com
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