WWDC 2023 promises to be Apple's largest developer conference to date. iOS 17 and the company's first mixed reality headset, as well as the announcement of Apple's largest ultra-thin laptop to date, the 15-inch MacBook Air is also fully expected.
And now there is more evidence to suggest that it will be more than just an introduction, but a laptop that will hit store shelves soon after Apple's June keynote.
According to a research note by Morgan Stanley analyst Erik Woodring seen by MacRumors, Quanta Computer, a supplier of Apple products, is expecting single-digit growth in volume of notebook computers assembled in the second quarter of 2023. Quanta Computer, a supplier of Apple products, expects single-digit growth in volume of notebook computers assembled in the second quarter of 2023.
Woodring believes that this increase will be driven, at least in part, by new MacBooks hitting store shelves in the near future, and the 15-inch version seems like a sure bet given the various other rumors and leaks surrounding it.
With the second quarter of this year ending on June 30, 25 days after Apple's WWDC keynote concludes, it feels likely that the largest MacBook Air ever will be on your lap or desk next month.
Currently, the MacBook Air only has a 13-inch screen. If one wants something larger, one would need to purchase a 14" or 16" MacBook Pro.
Apple's rumored 15-inch MacBook Air seems to be an attempt to fill that gap: a large-screen, ultra-portable device for those who do not need the Pro features of Apple's most expensive laptops. In other words, it will not have a high refresh rate ProMotion screen, fewer ports, and audio will likely be weaker than the Pro model.
The 15-inch MacBook Air is expected to look like a larger version of the current 13.6-inch MacBook Air M2 (pictured above), except with a larger 15.2-inch panel, thin bezels, camera cutouts, and the previous generation Air's signature It will feature a flat design with no tapered edges.
Unfortunately, performance upgrades are not expected to accompany the larger screen. Apple announced the M2 chip at last year's WWDC, but the M3 is said to be a bit behind, and the optional upgrade to the M2 Pro chip is currently only available on the 2022 MacBook Pro and 2022 Mac mini, so we are not Expectations.
However, the M2 remains a powerful chip and can compete with 12th generation Intel Core i7 CPUs. While it is not as fast, it is significantly more energy efficient and has a longer battery life.
Discussions with analysts suggest that the 15" laptop will start somewhere in the $1,299-$1,499 range. However, this is speculation, and we will have to wait and see what Apple announces at WWDC in two weeks.
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