Apple recently expanded its macOS laptop portfolio by launching the M2 Pro and M2 Max MacBook Pro, in addition to the M2 MacBook Air. This move upgraded the architecture from M1 to M2. However, those who seek a larger device are forced to upgrade to the MacBook Pro, even if they don’t require the added power and performance of the Pro line.
However, Apple is gearing up to introduce a more suitable alternative to the MacBook Pro, giving consumers a better option.
Mark Gurman, writing for Bloomberg’s Power On newsletter on Sunday, March 5th, highlighted an ongoing debate within Apple regarding the next MacBook Air. The question at hand is whether to make the larger display the main selling point and stick with the M2 chipset or follow previous precedents and bundle a more expensive Apple Silicon.
Gurman suggests that the situation regarding the chip destined for the new MacBook Air models is somewhat unclear. If the machines are launched in a few months with the M2 chip, they may quickly become outdated. While a 15-inch MacBook Air with an M2 chip might excite consumers, a new M2 13-inch MacBook Air may not be as compelling.
In the past, the MacBook lineup followed a natural hierarchy where the MacBook Air was a light and thin option with less processing power but greater convenience. As you moved up the portfolio, the MacBook Pro offered better thermal options, greater power, and a higher price tag. However, with the launch of the M1-powered MacBook Air, Apple Silicon disrupted this hierarchy. The M1 MacBook Air offered more power than the Intel MacBook Pro of the day, allowing users to achieve the same results without needing to invest in a more expensive and bulkier laptop.
The M1 Pro and M1 Max models of the MacBook Pro further pushed the envelope in terms of power and performance, with the M2 Pro and M2 Max building on that foundation. While some people may continue to buy the MacBook Pro due to the status associated with the “Pro” name and old habits from the Intel days, the majority of MacBook users may no longer need a MacBook Pro.
With the launch of the M2 chipset, the MacBook Air has become even more flexible and capable than before. However, one thing that Apple’s loyal macOS users have been asking for repeatedly is a MacBook Air with a larger display to match Windows-powered hardware. Fortunately, this long-awaited device is on its way, with Apple having ordered displays, sought certifications, and started production lines. The 15-inch MacBook Air, set to arrive before WWDC 2023, will boast power that can rival the fastest and most expensive MacBook Pro from the Intel days. It will be the perfect blend of performance, size, and affordability, and the laptop that countless users have been eagerly anticipating.
