With the recent release of Apple’s M1 chip, the company has launched a pair of laptops boasting unrivaled power. With the 13-inch MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro, Apple is proving that its new technology can contribute to excellent performance and battery life.
Apple isn’t done, however, as we know some information on the company’s potential plans for the next generation of MacBook Air. Here’s everything you need to know, including details on its release date, specs, rumors and more.
MacBook Air 2021 release date
According to a Bloomberg article, the MacBook Air 2021 is set to launch either in the latter half of 2021 or at some point during 2022. This information comes from “people with knowledge of the matter,” and considering the report was done by reputable Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman, there is a good chance it’s true.
The current generation of the 13-inch MacBook Air launched on November 17, 2020, so the next generation coming at some point during the end of the year definitely makes sense.
WWDC 2021 went by with no word on MacBook Air 2021, but we did learn a lot about iOS 15, iPadOS 15 and MacOS Monterey.
MacBook Air 2021 price
Considering the current-gen 13-inch MacBook Air starts at around $999 ($899 for education) and can go up to $2,649, it’s safe to assume the MacBook Air 2021 will possess a similar price range. However, we won’t know for sure until later in the year.
MacBook Air 2021 design
Reports have surfaced stating, the next generation MacBook Air will get smaller “by shrinking the border around the screen,” although the display itself will remain 13 inches. This is an exciting change, as the current MacBook Air has large, outdated bezels on both the top and bottom of the display. Gurman also made it clear in a Twitter post that the redesign will be both thinner and lighter. The current model comes in at 2.8 pounds, so having its weight drop to possibly match the 2.6 pound Dell XPS 13 is good news.
New story: Apple is planning n a redesigned, thinner/lighter 13-inch MacBook Air with next-gen M chip, MagSafe, two USB-C ports. Release as early as second half 2021. Apple also considered then scrapped a 15-inch version. That and more: https://t.co/kOpqkSYds0January 22, 2021
We also expect the 2021 model to have two USB 4 ports instead of Thunderbolt 4 for external connections. The existence of a lone headphone jack will likely return, although we’re really hoping Apple can put more ports on the MacBook Air. We also know that MagSafe charging is coming back for the first time in a few years.
Apple also temporarily entertained the idea of doing a 15-inch MacBook Air, but ultimately decided against it, according to Gurman. However, that could still mean we see a 15-inch MacBook Air in late 2022 or early 2023.
Ian Zelbo created a fan-made concept of what the MacBook Air 2021 could look like, taking inspiration from Apple’s iMac 2021.
This new design features a soft pastel blue finish, which makes the white keyboard look like clouds floating in the sky. The speaker placement and ports are faithful to what Apple built with the previous MacBook Air model, making Zelbo’s rendition seem plausible.
MacBook Air 2021 MagSafe
We also have strong reasons to believe the MacBook Air 2021 will launch with MagSafe. MagSafe is a magnetic charging system that can easily and sturdily connect into the laptop, but if it’s yanked, it’ll come out smoothly without bringing the entire thing down with it. This was a feature last used in 2018.
If it does return, MagSafe will likely be better, especially since Apple’s M1 chips have already significantly contributed to improving battery life. We also anticipate users could have a choice between USB Type-C and MagSafe charging.
MacBook Air 2021 specs
Similar to the latest iteration of MacBook laptops, the MacBook Air 2021 will boast a variation or upgraded version of Apple’s M1 chip. When we reviewed the 13-inch MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro, we found that Apple’s M1 chip greatly contributed to its excellent performance and battery life. If the M1 chip continues to improve with further iterations, we expect the next generation of MacBooks to do great things.
There are rumors that a more powerful chip called the M1X is in the works, but this is expected to be reserved for the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro. Otherwise, we can expect the MacBook Air 2021 to have similar specs to its predecessor with 8GB of RAM, 256GB or 512GB SSD, a Retina display with TrueTone, Touch ID and a Magic Keyboard.
MacBook Air 2021 what we want
When we reviewed the current generation of 13-inch MacBook Air, we took problem with the lack of an updated design and the existence of few ports. Apple is seemingly already at work on redesigning the MacBook Air to make it thinner and lighter. The current design is one that we’ve been familiar with for years, so we’re hoping Apple can show off something truly brilliant.
The current MacBook Air only has two Thunderbolt 3 ports and a single headphone jack. We know that the new MacBook Air will have two USB 4.0 ports (and we’re hoping there will be one for each side this time), but we’re unsure of what to expect beyond that. Hopefully, we can see a more varied collection of ports come to the MacBook Air, including a USB Type-A for legacy peripherals.
We’re also hoping to see improvements to the webcam. The current generation of MacBook Air boasts a webcam superior to most others found on laptops, but the images are still a bit fuzzy. Perhaps the implementation of a 1080p webcam would fix this, as the colors and brightness are already great on the current model.
