Apple is said to be planning a major MacBook Air refresh with an all-new design for 2022. But it may not get an “M2” chipset upgrade, as some rumors have suggested. It could also miss out on a mini-LED display.
Here’s what you can expect, according to one analyst who has proven reliable in the past.
MacBook Air could get colorful in 2022
It’s now been 16 months since Cupertino introduced the latest MacBook Air with its revolutionary M1 chip. Its most affordable notebook is certainly due an upgrade, then — and almost all rumors point to that happening this year.
But it might not be the upgrade many MacBook Air fans were hoping for. Although a big redesign with new color options is on the cards, Ming-Chi Kuo of TF International Securities is betting against a chipset upgrade.
MacBook Air to miss out on ‘M2’
The 2022 MacBook Air will be powered by an M1 chip, according to Kuo’s latest tweet. It’s not completely clear if it will be the entry-level M1 like the current model — which seems a little unlikely — or one of the more powerful variants.
It’s not unreasonable to think Apple could bring beefier M1 options, such as the M1 Max, to its more affordable machines in the future as they become more and more affordable to produce. It has done this with A-series chips in the past.
Sadly, Kuo also predicts that the new MacBook Air will miss out on a mini-LED screen, which is likely to remain exclusive to pricier Mac models for the foreseeable future. Here’s the full tweet:
Predictions for new MacBook Air in 2022:
1. Mass production in late 2Q22 or 3Q22
2. Processor: M1 chip
3. No mini-LED display
4. All-new form factor design
5. More color options— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) March 9, 2022
When will the 2022 MacBook Air arrive?
Kuo doesn’t offer a release date for the 2022 MacBook Air, but he does say that mass production is scheduled to begin during the third quarter of this year at the latest. That suggests we could be waiting until the fall for its official debut.
And it’s likely to be one of many new Mac models coming in 2022. Apple has already unveiled Mac Studio, while notable upgrades for Mac mini and the 13-inch MacBook Pro are expected — plus a new larger iMac.
