Apple’s next-gen MacBook Air will be thinner and lighter than the current version, as well as boasting a MagSafe charger and, possibly, a redesigned display.
According to a Friday report from Bloomberg, Apple is planning to launch these new laptops in the second half of 2021 or in 2022. This would be the second MacBook Air to feature Apple Silicon processors, following the M1 MacBook Air released at the end of last year.
Consistently reliable Apple report Mark Gurman writes:
“Apple has discussed making the laptop smaller by shrinking the border around the screen, which will remain 13-inches … The company [also] considered building a larger version of the MacBook Air with a 15-inch screen, but Apple isn’t moving forward with this for the next generation, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private matters. An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment.”
The return of the beloved MagSafe connector would match a similar return planned for the MacBook Pro. One of Apple’s neatest ever designs, the MagSafe charger used magnets to connect to the Mac. That meant that, if someone tripped over your charging cable, it would simply detach rather than pulling your entire laptop to the floor. The MagSafe was a fixture on every MacBook from around 2006 through 2016. Apple then transitioned to USB-C, since this could also be used for data transfer and outputting video.
According to today’s report, the new MacBook Air also will come with a pair of USB 4 ports for connecting external devices. That sounds like it’s in strong contrast to the iPhone, which could go entirely portless in the near future.
Apple first released the MacBook Air in January 2008. It was advertised at the time as the “world’s thinnest notebook.”
Source: Bloomberg
