If display industry analyst Ross Young is correct in his expectations, we’ll see Apple release a new MacBook Air sporting a larger 15-inch display, likely around April. The light laptop is expected to use Apple’s M2 Apple Silicon chip and will boast Bluetooth 5.3 and WiFi 6E.
In a tweet to his subscribers earlier this month, Young said he expects the new MacBook Air to launch in “early April” as display production is now underway. It is possible that an announcement and pre-orders could come sooner.
The new MacBook Air is expected to sport several new features, and below you’ll find what we can expect from the new MacBook Air.
M2 Chip
The 15-inch model is expected to be available with the M2 chip. The M2 chip is said to have up to an 18% faster CPU, up to a 35% faster GPU, and up to a 40% faster Neural Engine than its predecessor, the M1 chip.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo last year also claimed that we’d see a 15-inch MacBook with M2 and M2 Pro chip options sometime in the second quarter of 2023 or a bit later. However, Kuo said the MacBook he was discussing might not have the “Air” branding. This indicates that Apple could release a 15-inch MacBook positioned in between the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, but we won’t know for sure until the new laptop is unveiled.
Wi-Fi 6E
The 15-inch MacBook Air could receive Wi-Fi 6E capabilities. The Mac mini got the M2 chip and Wi-Fi 6E in an update last month.
While Wi-Fi 6 operates on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, Wi-Fi 6E also works on the 6GHz band. This allows for faster wireless speeds, lower latency, and less signal interference when connected to a Wi-Fi 6E router. Wi-Fi 6E routers are available from TP-Link, Asus, Netgear, and multiple other router manufacturers.
Apple has already added Wi-Fi 6E support to a few of its devices so far, including the most recent iPad Pro, the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro, and the Mac mini.
Bluetooth 5.3
The 15-inch MacBook Air could be next in line to gain Bluetooth 5.3 support. Apple has already added Bluetooth 5.3 to several of its latest devices, including the iPhone 14, the New AirPods Pro, and Apple Watch Series 8, the Apple Watch Ultra, and Apple Watch SE.
Bluetooth 5.3 when used with devices compatible with the latest specifications, offers better reliability, more efficient energy usage, and improved user experience. While Bluetooth 5.3 offers support for the new LE Audio specification, Apple hasn’t yet announced any implementation of the specs.
The LE Audio specifications in Bluetooth 5.3 offers a richer listening experience, as the Low Complexity Communication Codec (LC3) included in Bluetooth 5.3 offers a much more efficient way to wirelessly transmit audio. This means that once Apple integrates LE Audio, we should get higher-quality audio at the same bitrate. So, if/when it is implemented, we’ll likely see improved audio quality, longer battery life, and more.
Apple has filed a new Bluetooth 5.3 product listing. While the filing does not mention any specific product lines, it contains references to a macOS-related listing, indicating the new standard may be coming to products in the Mac lineup.
15-Inch Display
The new MacBook Air is expected to boast a larger 15.5-inch display, making it the largest display ever for the ultra-light laptop. The largest display for the current MacBook Air is 13.6 inches.
The 15-inch MacBook Air model is expected to have a traditional LCD display.
Improved Battery Life
A 15-inch display would mean a larger chassis for the new MacBook Air, which would allow for a larger battery, meaning improved battery life.
Apple claims its 13-inch MacBook Air with the M2 chip’s battery can last up to 18 hours per charge. This means the 15-inch model could boast battery life closer to the 20-hour mark.
M3 On the Way?
Apple is also rumored to be readying an update of the MacBook Air with the M3 chip later this year, meaning there would only be around six to eight months between these refreshes if Apple does release a new 15.5-inch model.
(Via MacRumors)
