An updated MacBook Air could be coming in the not too distant future, according to certifications for a new MacBook Air battery recently filed in China and Denmark.
A 49.9Wh battery with a capacity of 4380mAh was spotted by a MySmartPrice contributor in certification filings with UL Demko and the China Certification Corporation, regulatory bodies that must approve and test new hardware used by Apple and other companies.
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The battery appears to be destined for a future MacBook Air, given the capacity. The current MacBook Air has a 49.9Wh battery as this model does, though Apple is using a new A2389 model number that is different from the A1965 model number used in the last few MacBook Air generations.
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There's no word on when a new MacBook Air might launch, and these kinds of filings can sometimes happen months ahead of when a new product comes out. Multiple rumors have suggested that the MacBook Air will be one of the first Macs to get an Apple Silicon chip, and the new Arm-based machine could come before the end of 2020.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes a refreshed MacBook Air with an Apple Silicon chip could come in the fourth quarter of 2020 or the first quarter of 2021, while DigiTimes has said that a new Arm-based MacBook Air will be released in 2020.
Apple has confirmed that the first Apple Silicon Macs are expected before the end of the year, but has not provided details on which machines will be upgraded first. Apple already upgraded the MacBook Air in 2020 with 10th-generation Intel processors and a scissor switch keyboard, but it's not out of the question that a second update could come in 2020 given the swap to Apple Silicon chips.
The 49.9Wh battery in the current MacBook Air provides up to 11 hours of battery life when browsing the web and up to 12 hours when using the Apple TV app for watching movies.
If the next MacBook Air set to receive this new 49.9Wh battery is an Apple Silicon Mac, there could be some potential gains in battery life even if the battery size isn't increasing.
Apple Silicon chips are expected to be much more power efficient than the current Intel chips used in the MacBook Air lineup, so in addition to performance improvements, battery life could be bumped up as well.
For more on what we're expecting for the next MacBook Air, check out our MacBook Air roundup, and for details on Apple's transition to Apple Silicon chips, read our in-depth guide.
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The Air is the most logical choice because:It seems odd to me that the Air would be first because either: 1) AS has power/efficiency that makes it more compelling than the MacBook Pro at a lower price or 2) the new Air doesn’t have better power/efficiency than the current MacBook Pro, and everyone declares AS a disappointment.
I assume Apple would prefer the former and let the MBP take the hit in the short term, but neither seems great. Why not debut the new silicon in the high-end line?
1. MacBook Air sells at a much higher volume compared to MacBook Pro.
2. Users of MacBook Air aren't likely running any commercial software. Most of them are likely using Mac App Store.
3. MacBook Pro users are more likely to rely on commercial software, which will take time to convert.
Apple's immediate goal is to prove the ARM Macs have no compatibility issues and can function as basic consumer devices. Proving performance and attracting professional users? That's Phase 2 of the project.
I actually think they will bring back the MacBook and have a silicon chip inside of that model first before it gets out to the other lines.. I believe the MacBook from a few years back was a fan-less design.. if so, putting an A series chip in that body would make sense before we see a wider integration. but that's just my .2cIn my opinion, it would make more sense if Apple were to release their first silicon chip in the MacBook Air to make it more cost-effective and powerful instead of releasing a pro product.
In my opinion, it would make more sense if Apple were to release their first silicon chip in the MacBook Air to make it more cost-effective and powerful instead of releasing a pro product.
Releasing a MacBook Air will, as you note, offer an entry-level product into the Apple Silicon ecosystem.However, also offer a MacBook Pro will show Apple's confidence that Apple Silicon can run with Intel in the "mid-pro" market. And that will boost the market's confidence in Apple Silicon.