The MacBook Pro is the flagship of Apple’s macOS range. In recent years, the 14-inch and 16-inch models have pushed the boundaries of what these laptops can do, but only a handful of professionals need that much power on tap when they hit the coffee shop. For everyone else, the MacBook Air has consistently delivered.
Over the next few months, MacBook Air will continue to marginalize MacBook Pro with consumer offerings that can handle the challenges of everyday life and still have performance to enjoy over your latte.
Cook stands next to a display of a redesigned MacBook Air laptop during WWDC22 at Apple Park on June 06, 2022 in Cupertino, California. Apple CEO Tim Cook opened the annual developer conference WWDC22. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)Getty Images
Tim Cook’s decision to finally launch a MacBook Air with a 15-inch display — the first in MacBook Air’s 15-year history — will make headlines. The bigger screen has many Air fans eagerly awaiting, but it might not be the only upgrade going big. Apple will also be pushing forward, offering the new design with the latest Apple Silicon technology.
The third generation chipset should debut at this year’s WWDC with the presumed M3 name, the 15-inch MacBook Air is likely to debut with this brand new chipset. At the consumer level, Apple Silicon offers more power and flexibility than Intel MacBook laptops have ever achieved. The M1 laptops reset expectations, and the M2s added another twenty percent in performance.
It’s likely that the M3 chipsets will offer another step up, at which point the potential for consumers to outperform even the entry-level M3 is significantly less. While professionals will appreciate the M2 Pro and M2 Max specs (and eagerly await the benchmarks the M3 Pro and M3 Max might offer), even the “prosumer” MacBook user will have trouble pushing the limits of an M3 MacBook to exceed air.
Once you move beyond the need for a workstation-class macOS laptop, Apple’s upcoming MacBook Air laptops should offer everything you need and a little more. The only thing missing from this package is an Air with a larger display.
Tim Cook and his team will offer just that over the next few months.
Skip the MacBook Pro because the MacBook Air will face the challenges of your own life head-on.
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I’m known for my strong views on mobile technology, online media and the impact this is having on public awareness and existing businesses. I’ve been following this field for over ten years, working with a range of publishers, publications and media outlets, some for long term, others for commissions, one offs or a series of articles or shows. As Scotland’s premier podcaster, I continue to be a prominent voice in the rise of podcasting and new online media, earning a British Academy (BAFTA) nomination for my annual coverage of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, alongside contributions to Radio 5 Live, the BBC World Service presents Edinburgh local radio’s coverage of the General Election. You can find me on Twitter (@Ewan), Facebook and Google Plus.
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