Five Features to Look Forward to in the 2022 MacBook Air
In 2022, Apple is going to release an updated version of the MacBook Air with some of the biggest design changes that we've seen since 2010, when Apple introduced the 11 and 13-inch size options. In the video below, we highlight five features that you need to know about the new machine.
- No More Wedge Design - Current MacBook Air models have a wedge design that tapers toward the front, but the new MacBook Air will look much more like the MacBook Pro with a uniform body design. It's going to deviate from the MacBook Pro in terms of ports, though, with Apple only expected to include USB-C ports.
- White Bezels - The MacBook Air is rumored to be modeled after the 24-inch iMac, with off-white bezels around the display and a matching off-white keyboard with a full row of function keys. The MacBook Pro surprised us all with a notch for the camera, and rumors suggest the MacBook Air will have the same notch, but in white.
- Multiple Colors - Continuing on with the iMac theme, the new MacBook Air is expected to be made available in several color options. The colors could be similar to the 24-inch iMac, which comes in blue, green, pink, silver, yellow, orange, and purple. Apple has a history of using bright colors for its non Pro machines, and different color options would clearly distinguish the MacBook Air from its Pro sibling.
- Mini-LED Display - Apple introduced a mini-LED display with ProMotion technology in the 2021 MacBook Pro models, and the 2022 MacBook Air could adopt the same display, though without the ProMotion. The MacBook Air display is expected to continue to measure in at around 13 inches.
- M2 Chip - Rumors suggest the MacBook Air will be equipped with an "M2" chip, which would be an upgraded version of the M1. It won't be as powerful as the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips used in the MacBook Pro, but it will offer an improvement over the M1. It's expected to continue to feature an 8-core CPU, but with faster performance and nine or 10 GPU cores, up from seven or eight in the M1.
There's one other notable rumor - the upcoming MacBook Air might not be an "Air" at all. Apple could be planning to revert to the standard "MacBook" name, which hasn't been in use since the 12-inch MacBook was continued. It's not yet clear if this is accurate, so the "Air" moniker might not stick around, but there's a chance Apple is once again going to streamline its Mac naming.
We'll know more as the MacBook Air's launch date approaches, and while a release timeline isn't nailed down as of yet, we're expecting to see it sometime in the second half of the year.
For a more in-depth overview of what's expected for the 2022 MacBook Air, we have a dedicated rumor guide. It's a good idea to keep it bookmarked if you're planning on buying one of the new machines, because we update it each time there's a new rumor.
Popular Stories
Apple is about to release iOS 26.2, the second major point update for iPhones since iOS 26 was rolled out in September, and there are at least 15 notable changes and improvements worth checking out. We've rounded them up below.
Apple is expected to roll out iOS 26.2 to compatible devices sometime between December 8 and December 16. When the update drops, you can check Apple's servers for the ...
Apple is encouraging iPhone users who are still running iOS 18 to upgrade to iOS 26 by making the iOS 26 software upgrade option more prominent.
Since iOS 26 launched in September, it has been displayed as an optional upgrade at the bottom of the Software Update interface in the Settings app. iOS 18 has been the default operating system option, and users running iOS 18 have seen iOS 18...
Apple today seeded the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 updates to developers and public beta testers, with the software coming two weeks after Apple seeded the third betas. The release candidates represent the final versions of iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 that will be provided to the public if no further bugs are found during this final week of testing....
In a statement shared with Bloomberg on Wednesday, Apple confirmed that its software design chief Alan Dye will be leaving. Apple said Dye will be succeeded by Stephen Lemay, who has been a software designer at the company since 1999.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Dye will lead a new creative studio within the company's AR/VR division Reality Labs.
On his blog Daring Fireball,...
We're getting closer to the launch of the final major iOS update of the year, with Apple set to release iOS 26.2 in December. We've had three betas so far and are expecting a fourth beta or a release candidate this week, so a launch could follow as soon as next week.
Past Launch Dates
Apple's past iOS x.2 updates from the last few years have all happened right around the middle of the...
Apple is expected to launch a new foldable iPhone next year, based on multiple rumors and credible sources. The long-awaited device has been rumored for years now, but signs increasingly suggest that 2026 could indeed be the year that Apple releases its first foldable device.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
Below, we've collated an updated set of key details that ...
Intel is expected to begin supplying some Mac and iPad chips in a few years, and the latest rumor claims the partnership might extend to the iPhone.
In a research note with investment firm GF Securities this week, obtained by MacRumors, analyst Jeff Pu said he and his colleagues "now expect" Intel to reach a supply deal with Apple for at least some non-pro iPhone chips starting in 2028....
A U.S. appeals court has upheld a temporary restraining order that prevents OpenAI and Jony Ive's new hardware venture from using the name "io" for products similar to those planned by AI audio startup iyO, Bloomberg Law reports.
iyO sued OpenAI earlier this year after the latter announced its partnership with Ive's new firm, arguing that OpenAI's planned "io" branding was too close to its...
The iPhone Air has recorded the steepest early resale value drop of any iPhone model in years, with new data showing that several configurations have lost almost 50% of their value within ten weeks of launch.
According to a ten-week analysis published by SellCell, Apple's latest lineup is showing a pronounced split in resale performance between the iPhone 17 models and the iPhone Air....
iPhone 17 Pro models, it turns out, can't take photos in Night mode when Portrait mode is selected in the Camera app – a capability that's been available on Apple's Pro devices since the iPhone 12 Pro in 2020.
If you're an iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 17 Pro Max owner, try it for yourself: Open the Camera app with Photo selected in the carousel, then cover the rear lenses with your hand to...