According to Apple’s latest rumors, the 15-inch MacBook Air could arrive as early as April. It’s only two months! Does it make sense? Is it worth it to believe? What about the MacBook M3 later this year, or the return of the 12-inch “MacBook”? Let’s go through each.

15-inch MacBook Air: most likely

An inexpensive 15-inch MacBook—the Air branding we’ll discuss later—makes sense. A significant percentage of users want a large-screen laptop larger than 13.6 or 14.2 inches, and Apple can’t offer them anything other than the $2,499 MacBook Pro. What’s more, there’s a huge price gap between the 13-inch MacBook Air M2 starting at $1199 and the 14-inch MacBook Pro starting at $1999.

The latest 15-inch MacBook rumors come from fairly reliable sources. Ross Young of Display Chain Supply Consultants has had a few slips in the past, but he’s usually right when he says “production has started.” The prolific (and often accurate) Apple insider Mark Gurman has been saying that this larger MacBook has been around since last year, and reiterated back in January that it would be a major lifesaving perk for the 2023 Mac lineup.

Most of the rumors refer to this new MacBook as a larger version of the MacBook Air that will remove the last remaining remnant of the original MacBook Air identity. Apple already ditched the ultra-thin wedge design when the M2 arrived last year, and with a 15-inch display, it will no longer be Apple’s lightest or most portable MacBook. But since the MacBook Air is Apple’s most recognizable product, and we’re guessing the MacBook is the top seller, Apple’s reports of using the Air name are probably correct.

So while the April date isn’t set in stone – it’s an estimate based on the supply chain schedule – it looks like the 15-inch MacBook Air is almost certainly on the way and will most likely arrive no later than WWDC in June. If you’re excited about the prospect of such a product, start saving money. This is as close to confirmation as we’ve ever gotten unannounced Apple products.

IDG

MacBook Air M3: believable

When it comes to other MacBook rumors, the situation is far more hazy. Many sources say that Apple is expected to release the M3 processor this year – probably in the fourth quarter. If this is true, then most likely it will happen in late autumn in October.

The timing of the M3 announcement makes sense, as a late 2023 release would mean it would be about a year and a half behind the introduction of the M2 and three years after the M1. If Apple introduces a new chip, you can probably expect to upgrade the 13.6-inch MacBook Air M2 at the same time, as well as the 24-inch iMac and possibly the Mac mini.

If the M3 arrives in October, the M3 Pro and M3 Max probably won’t arrive until mid-2024. After all, we just got a MacBook Pro with the M2 Pro and M2 Max last month, and while reports say that Apple planned to release them months earlier, a major update at the end of 2023 may be too soon.

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12-inch MacBook: very skeptical

Finally, a recent rumor points to a resurgence of the polarized 12-inch MacBook, the successor to the model sold from 2015 to 2017. The source of this rumor is a post on the Korean Naver blog by a user with a sketchy track record who claims to know someone in the Taiwanese supply chain, so should be taken with caution. huge A grain of salt.

However, earlier there were rumors that Apple is working on a laptop smaller than 13 inches. In June, Gurman revealed that Apple is working on a 12-inch laptop, slated for release in late 2023 or 2024. Haven’t heard of any rumored plans for a 12-inch MacBook yet. But it’s been over half a year since we haven’t heard from a 12-inch MacBook, so we’re not holding our breath.

In addition, the 12″ model will add another option to their sea: 13.3″ (M1 MacBook Air, M2 MacBook Pro), 13.6″ (M2 MacBook Air), 14.2″ (M2 Pro/M2 Max MacBook Pro), 15″ (rumored to be MacBook Air), and 16.2″ (M2 Pro/M2 Max MacBook Pro). Do we really need a 12-inch model? Who is it for?

Granted, we won’t be surprised to see MacBook M3s launch later this year, but we have no doubt that the new 12-inch model will be one of them until we see more concrete evidence.