If you believe the rumors, Apple is coming out with a completely redesigned version of its MacBook Air. These predictions come from reports by a number of leakers, including Jon Prosser, who has been revealing quite accurate information on Apple’s future plans, especially in regard to the M-series Macs. He has also released renders of the new machine based on leaked images.
Mark Gurman of Bloomberg and Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo have echoed Prosser’s claims that Apple is working on redesigning its current MacBook Air’s look in a new version.
Prosser remarks that the new MacBook Air will feature a number of design upgrades and come in a range of colors, just like the 24-inch Mac. Based on leaked images he claims to have seen, the laptop will come in blue and green, with many more options to match the iMac’s palette of subtle, pastel colors on its stands, which contrasts with darker colors on its rear. He says the colors of the new MacBook Air will be “very close, if not identical, to the shades that you see on the stands for the new 24-inch iMacs.”
Prosser and Gurman also predict that the next-gen MacBook Air will leverage an M2 Apple silicon chip instead of its predecessor, the M1 chip that the current MacBook air hosts. The chip is said to be significantly more efficient while featuring the same number of cores. It is also assumed that the new model will sport increased graphics cores.
It is assumed that the new MacBook Air will host full-sized function keys and a relatively smaller trackpad compared to the current model. It will have two USB-C ports, one on each of its sides. While Gurman claimed that it will feature a MagSafe connector ensuring fast charging speeds, Prosser did not add it to his released renders as it wasn’t visible in the leaked images.
In terms of design, the underside of the new version will see two long vertical strips of rubber feet instead of four small pads on its corners. Another one of Prosser’s speculations include that, also just like the iMac, the new MacBook Air will sport white bezels. He also claims that it will feature an ultraslim profile. Apple plans on ditching its famous tapered design for the new MacBook Air, and instead will give it a much thinner body.
Prosser predicts the new version to launch in the end of 2021 if it releases this year. Gurman supports the claim by commenting that Apple plans to release the MacBook Air in the second half of this year if it releases in 2021. If it doesn’t, then you can expect it in early 2022, according to the Bloomberg analyst.
The absolutely absurd idea of putting a touchscreen display on a mouse isn't exactly new. Turtle Beach already did it with its Command Series MC7, which features a 2.25-inch control screen. But apparently, even that wasn't ridiculous enough for Arctic Fox Technologies. Its new Super Mouse looks like someone took the chunky old Atari ST mouse, slapped a touchscreen and scroll wheel on it, and called it an upgrade.
The result is a rather unusual-looking mouse that is now on Kickstarter, starting at $199. And as ridiculous as it looks, some of its features are genuinely intriguing.
Apple is less than a day away from launching its highly anticipated OLED MacBook Pro with a touch-sensitive screen. But it appears that the upgrade is going to cost a pretty penny. According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple is reportedly eyeing a starting price of $2,899 for the 14-inch MacBook Pro, while the 16-inch version could start at $3,399 in the US.
"At $2,899, the 14-inch model would mark the highest starting price for a new MacBook Pro model, surpassing the $2,799 Apple charged for a 17-inch version introduced in 2006," says the report. The report claims that Apple is targeting a minimum price hike of $400 for its upcoming redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.
I've spent a good amount of time digging into the spec sheet of the new M6 MacBook Pro (14-inch), and for all intents and purposes, this is a classic Apple "chip and connectivity" refresh. It's not a full redesign. The chassis, Liquid Retina XDR panel, speakers, ports, and battery, all of them carry over unchanged.
However, the M6 brings more cores, stronger on-device AI, higher memory bandwidth on the larger configs, and modern wireless. Here’s the practical rundown of what actually improved, and whether those gains are worth your money.