The MacBook Air lineup will get a new, larger member to complement the 13-inch model. A bigger notebook comes with inherent benefits, but how will this 15-inch version raise the bar, and what sort of improvements can we hope to see from it? Our detailed rumor roundup answers every possible question you may have, so let us get started.
Unchanged design with a larger footprint should be expected, bringing two inherent benefits, but do not expect a display upgrade
It makes little sense for Apple to introduce a redesign for the 15-inch MacBook Air when it has already revamped the 13-inch model. This is the reason why we feel that the larger portable Mac will sport the same look but in a bigger footprint, which brings a ton of natural benefits to the table, which we will get into later. For now, expect to see a notch at the top that does not support Face ID but likely has a 1080p FaceTime HD camera.
Apart from a size difference, there should not be any major differences between the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air
The display is said to measure 15.5 inches diagonally, so the panel will probably have a resolution that exceeds that of the 13-inch MacBook Air, which is 2560 x 1664. Also, like the smaller version, we do not see Apple adopting mini-LED or ProMotion technology for this model, meaning that potential buyers will be limited to a 60Hz, IPS LED-backlit screen. The advantage of a bigger display means you will get a larger battery than the 52.6WHr cell present in the current version.
No M3 for the 15-inch MacBook Air, but here is why that is not a bad thing
Even though Apple is said to have secured TSMC’s 3nm chip supply for the upcoming M3 and A17 Bionic, do not expect the 15-inch MacBook Air to come equipped with the cutting-edge silicon as that is reserved for newer machines rumored to arrive in the fourth quarter. Instead, we should see the M2 being retained, and while that might sound disappointing to some of you, let us tell you why it can actually be a positive thing for many.
Apple to likely use the M2 on the 15-inch MacBook Air
Firstly, we believe that just like the 13-inch version, the larger MacBook Air will feature a passive cooling solution, meaning no presence of any fan. While the lack of noise will make it a comfortable experience to use, it will mean the M2 will reach high temperatures within the snap of a finger. On the 13-inch model, we reported a 25 percent loss in multi-performance as the SoC was hitting its thermal throttling limit. Though this was addressed using an inexpensive thermal pad that made proper contact with the chipset, we can understand some customers having reservations about the larger MacBook Air.
Fortunately, the bigger size of the portable Mac means the M2 will have an increased heat dissipation area, leading to slightly better temperatures. This means that multi-core performance will not see that big of a hit, so any applications that require all cores to work in unison will greatly benefit from the larger footprint of the MacBook Air. We still think that YouTubers will attempt to further reduce the temperatures through some form of modding, so that should be exciting.
Base RAM and storage configurations should start from 8GB and 256GB, respectively, and since Apple switched to Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 for the 2023 MacBook Pro lineup, it is more than possible these upgrades land for the 15-inch MacBook Air too. Given its larger size, slight upgrades and increased cooling solution, all of this will come at a price, which we have discussed right at the end.
Ports selection, available colors at launch to remain the same as well
The I/O of the 13-inch MacBook Air is decent, but it will most likely remain unchanged on the 15-inch model. What you may get is the MagSafe charging port, a 3.5mm audio jack, and two Thunderbolt 4 ports.
Expect the same ports for the 15-inch MacBook Air
While this configuration is not as plentiful as the one found in the 2023 MacBook Pro models, it should be sufficient for the majority of users. Since Apple is not incorporating anything new to this model, we expect it to arrive in the same four finishes as the 13-inch MacBook Air: Midnight, Starlight, Space Gray, and Silver.
Four finishes might be announced during the April announcement
Expect a smaller price bump and an April launch
The 15-inch MacBook Air could start from $1,299.99 and may offer 8GB unified RAM, M2 SoC with 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU, and 256GB of storage. This is $100 more expensive than the 13-inch model, which is nominal, given the screen real estate bump, increased battery life, and potentially improved thermal performance. Of course, not all of this information is accurate, and as soon as we continue to come across reliable data, we will update our findings accordingly. For now, let all of us wait for a rumored launch in Spring.
The post Apple’s 15-Inch MacBook Air – Here’s Everything You Need To Know About The Larger Version by Omar Sohail appeared first on Wccftech.
