Rumors are swirling about the possibility of a new 15.5-inch MacBook Air from Apple. According to display industry analyst Ross Young, Apple’s supply chain has started production of display panels for the new model, and he predicts it will launch in “early April.”
The possibility of a new MacBook Air with a larger 15.5″ display is exciting news, but there are still many unknown factors. Here’s what we know so far.
New 15.5-Inch Display Size
The new MacBook Air with a 15.5-inch screen is the most notable upgrade. The current MacBook Air is 13 inches, so if Apple were to release a 15-inch version, it would be the largest ever for a MacBook Air. People who use their laptops for work, gaming, or creative projects may find that the larger display makes a huge difference.
There is no word on whether the new 15-inch MacBook Air will have a Pro Motion display like the 2022 or 2023 Macbook Pros.
M2 or Refreshed M3 Chip?
While we don’t have many details about the new model, there are rumors that the MacBook Air will come equipped with the M2 chip, similar to the current 13-inch MacBook Air released in July 2022. However, it’s also possible that Apple could use the next-generation 3nm-based M3 chip, which is yet to be announced.
Gizchina News of the week
We at GizChina are not sure if it’s a good idea to release the new MacBook Air with the M2 chip this spring since there are rumors that Apple will update the MacBook Air later this year with the M3 chip. If the M3 refresh is true, there would only be around six to eight months between these refreshes. We don’t yet know what Apple’s plans are or how they will handle the release of two new MacBook Air models so quickly.
New Color Options for Macbook Air?
We may also see the introduction of new color options for the MacBook Air, as rumors suggest that Apple is considering offering a range of color options for the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models, similar to the M1 iMac. One possibility is that the new MacBook Air may come in purple. This would depart from the usual silver, space gray, and gold color options.
Release Date and Price
According to Young, the release date for the new MacBook Air is early April 2023. No word yet from Apple, but the company usually unveils new products in the spring (March 2022 and April 2021 were examples). The 13-inch MacBook Air with the M2 chip starts at $1,199, so the 15.5-inch model could cost more. We expect the new Macbook Air 15-inch to cost around $1,499.
In the past, Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC), has accurately predicted many features of future Apple products. He predicted correctly that the iPhone 13 Pro and high-end MacBook Pro models would include ProMotion. Also, the sixth-generation iPad mini would have an 8.3-inch display. Considering the credibility of Ross, there’s a high possibility that the new Macbook Air could have a 15.5-inch Display.