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The 2022 MacBook Air could be unveiled today (Monday, June 6) during Apple’s WWDC event. It’s been two years since we’ve seen a new MacBook Air, and now seems like an opportune time for Apple to release an updated model.
Of course, the rumors surrounding the MacBook Air 2022 have multiplied in recent weeks. Some rumors seem likely, while others could be far-fetched. From a total redesign to the inclusion of the rumored M2 chip, Apple’s thinnest laptop could potentially see significant changes. It’s also possible that the new MacBook Air will only get a minor update.
Below we list the top MacBook Air 2022 rumors and the likelihood of seeing them in the new laptop.
Rumored features of the 2022 MacBook Air: Redesign
Leaked renders suggest the 2022 MacBook Air may get a fresh redesign. Instead of the wedge-shaped, tapered design that the laptop is known for, the MacBook Air may have a more uniform, rectangular, rounded body, similar to the 2021 MacBook Pro 14-inch and MacBook Pro 16-inch.
The same MacBook Air 2022 renders show multiple color options including purple, orange, blue, red, yellow, green, and silver/grey. These colors could serve to differentiate the MacBook Air from the MacBook Pro line, much like the colors of the iPad Air distinguish it from the iPad Pro.
The above renders also show narrower bezels, a notched display, and a MagSafe connector for power. A more recent suite of renderings, reportedly based on Apple’s CAD designs, show a MacBook Air 2022 without a display notch. Slimmer bezels are one of them 5 things we want in the next MacBook Airso such a change would be welcome.
Considering how the MacBook Pro 2021 lineup has been redesigned over the past year, it’s not unreasonable to assume Apple would do the same for the MacBook Air. This rumor seems likely.
Rumored features of the MacBook Air 2022: Mini LED display
The MacBook Air 2022’s screen has been tilted to use a mini-LED display like this one iPad Pro 2021 and new MacBook Pros said to deliver boosts in brightness and colors. However, industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo denies thisand notes that the laptop may come with a brand new design without mini-LED.
Display analyst Ross Young says the “MacBook Air” will continue to use an LCD display, with Apple reserving Mini-LED for pricier Pro models (via apple word (opens in new tab)).
While a mini-LED display would be nice, the 2022 MacBook Air could do without it if Apple wants to keep the laptop’s price point low. Finally, the relatively cheap price compared to the MacBook Pro range is one of the main reasons why the Air series is so popular.
Rumored MacBook Air 2022 features: MagSafe charging and ports
MagSafe charging made its return to MacBooks with last year’s MacBook Pros. Rumors suggest it will come back for the next-gen Air as well. If that’s true, longtime MacBook fans will no doubt rejoice. Finally, MagSafe charging was one of the line’s standout features.
The new MacBook Pros also have an SD card reader and an HDMI port, so we might see that in the new Air as well A detailed leak claims the MacBook Air could stick with USB-C ports only. That wouldn’t be a big deal thanks to USB-C, which allows for higher levels of connectivity, but folks wanting more port access may have to deal with dongles.
Since the MacBook Air series is meant to be slim, it wouldn’t be surprising if Apple kept ports to the bare minimum. However, charging MagSafe seems like a more likely bet.
Rumored features of the MacBook Air 2022: M2 chip
According to analyst Ming Chi Kuo, We may see the first M2 chips in the next iterations of the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. It is also possible that the M2 chip will appear in the MacBook Air 2022.
Interestingly how previous rumors suggested so, the M2 might not be much stronger than the M1. According to Kuo, Apple could call the redesigned chip “M2” to boost sales, or wait to use that moniker for chips debuting in 2023.
In a previous report, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claimed that the M2 chip would have an 8-core CPU with four efficient and powerful cores, and a 10-core GPU. That would make it less powerful than the M1 Pro or M1 Max in the new 2021 MacBook Pros, but more powerful than the M1 chip.
That’s according to another rumor Entry-level vanilla M2 chips are tested in a MacBook Air 2022, a Mac mini 2022 and an entry-level 13-inch model MacBook Pro 2022. You might get some déjà vu at this point, as these are the three hardware bits that Apple debuted the original M1 chip with, so a pattern seems to be forming. Across all three, the M2 chip has the same specs: the same eight CPU cores as the M1, but with two or three additional graphics cores, for a total of ten.
Apple said the M1 Ultra (which is basically two M1 Max chips plugged together) is the last of the M1 lineup. To that end, an M1 successor is coming – although that doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll see it in Apple’s laptops and computers in 2022. If the M2 debuts this year, it’s possible it won’t offer a major upgrade over the M1. That said, it should still possess the impressive power and performance that Apple silicon is known for.
Rumored MacBook Air 2022 features: naming
One of the more interesting rumors about the 2022 MacBook Air is that Apple could drop the “Air” moniker and just call the new device “MacBook.” This is according to both leaker Dylandkt and Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (via MacRumors (opens in new tab)). The former isn’t exactly sure when or if that will happen, while the latter claims Apple will drop the “Air” name in a future 2023 MacBook Air model.
Whether this rumor will come true is difficult to say. Apple might want to drop the Air name to make it clear that this is the de facto MacBook line for everyday users and that the Pro series is for professionals. But we don’t have enough information at the moment to make that decision.
Rumored features of the MacBook Air 2022: Outlook
There is no doubt that we will see a new MacBook Air at some point in the future. Although rumors are strongly suggesting the laptop will arrive this year, that’s still up in the air (pun intended). But whether or not the 2022 MacBook Air shows up this year, Apple fans and the computing world in general have every reason to be excited.
Hopefully we’ll learn more during WWDC 2022. You can follow it all with us today on our WWDC 2022 live blog and we also have a guide on how to watch the WWDC 2022 live stream.