For the longest time, the MacBook Air has consistently been an ultraportable 13-inch laptop since it launched in 2009. There was an 11-inch model for a while, but Apple has stopped offering it since 2015. Fast forward to 2023, and Apple might return to offering two MacBook Air models–this time around, the other variant will be a bigger 15-inch model.
This has been in the rumor mill for a while, and Ross Young and Display Supply Chain Consultants confirm this, adding that production for the 15-inch MacBook Air panels has reportedly started. It’s speculated that Apple will unveil the 15-inch MacBook Air in April, though it will not be a full-blown Apple event.
Despite that Apple already has a 16-inch MacBook Pro, having a 15-inch MacBook Air will make sense. With the power of the M2 chip, the current MacBook Air is a powerful ultraportable laptop, and not everyone will need the features found on the 16-inch MacBook Pro. Some users look for a large display on a lightweight chassis, and with the MacBook Air being more affordable than the MacBook Pro, this will be a great move for Apple to have a competitive large-screened laptop lineup.
As for details about it, the 15-inch MacBook Air will have a 15.5-inch notched display and the same set of ports as the current 13.3-inch model: that consists of a MagSafe port and two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports. It is expected to use an M2 processor just like the 13.3-inch model, but it’s possible that an M2 Pro option will be offered.
Ming-Chi Kuo earlier said that the 15-inch MacBook Air might not have the Air branding and that the 12-inch MacBook might return as well.
