New MacBook Air Expected at WWDC Next Week With These Features

Apple plans to announce a new MacBook Air with a larger 15-inch display at WWDC next week, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The annual developers conference begins with Apple's keynote on Monday, June 5 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time.

MacBook Air Multiple Sizes Feature
While we wait for the new MacBook Air to be announced, we have recapped five new features that have been rumored or are likely for the laptop.

15-Inch Display

The new MacBook Air will be equipped with a larger 15.5-inch display, according to reliable display industry analyst Ross Young. The current MacBook Air has a 13.6-inch display, and the laptop was offered in an 11-inch size many years ago.

While a new 13-inch MacBook Air with an OLED display is rumored to launch in 2024, the 15-inch model is expected to have a traditional LCD.

M2 Chip

Like the 13-inch MacBook Air, the 15-inch model will be available with the M2 chip, according to Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Apple says the M2 chip has up to an 18% faster CPU, up to a 35% faster GPU, and up to a 40% faster Neural Engine compared to the M1 chip, for those who are considering upgrading from a 2020 MacBook Air.

Longer Battery Life

With a 15-inch display, the new MacBook Air would have a larger chassis, allowing for a larger battery and longer battery life.

Apple says the 13-inch MacBook Air with the M2 chip lasts up to 18 hours per charge, so perhaps the 15-inch model could get closer to the 20-hour mark. Apple silicon chips continue to have industry-leading performance-per-watt.

Wi-Fi 6E

While the 13-inch MacBook Air is limited to Wi-Fi 6, there is a good chance that the 15-inch model will be upgraded to Wi-Fi 6E. Apple released new 14-inch MacBook Pro, 16-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini models with Wi-Fi 6E in January.

Wi-Fi 6 operates on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, while Wi-Fi 6E also works over the 6GHz band, allowing for faster wireless speeds, lower latency, and less signal interference. To take advantage of these benefits, the device must be connected to a Wi-Fi 6E router, available from brands like TP-Link, Asus, and Netgear.

Bluetooth 5.3

Apple has added Bluetooth 5.3 to several of its latest devices, and the 15-inch MacBook Air could be next in line to gain support. Bluetooth 5.3 offers benefits such as improved reliability and power efficiency compared to Bluetooth 5.2.

Related Roundup: MacBook Air
Related Forum: MacBook Air

Top Rated Comments

falkon-engine Avatar
7 months ago
Why M2 and not M3?
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
7 months ago
By next week: I have placed my order for a brand new 15" MacBook Air - Midnight. Oh yeah, it's about to get real.

Have you?
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
7 months ago

Why M2 and not M3?

Exactly, still limited in functionality, because has to leave room for upsell to the MacBook Pro 14 or 16 inch; and that is probably what this MacBook Air is designed for more than anything. You can just read the internal training material, if potential buyer brings up multiple display, gently note, this device is limited to one display then say, 'however, we have the 16 in MacBook Pro here that will support multiple 8K displays and includes HDMI 1.2 and this might be a better fit for you.

Yeah, its like we really want this thing with M2 only.
I think it will carry the M2.5 Version. I really don't see Apple releasing a new Mac carrying last year's chip. It will mostly be redefined version of the M2 chip series.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CalMin Avatar
7 months ago
M2 = only 1 external display.

Woe is me.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HobeSoundDarryl Avatar
7 months ago
Impressive! I suspect many traditional MBpro buyers like me will take a good look at this as a possible alternative. I find myself in a mode of doing what I can on MB and saving the bigger tasks for the desktop Mac... which means "full power" for the road is no longer a driver of this decision (for me anyway).

That shared though, I suspect the pricing will be a shocker... as in "might as well get a MBpro" pricing... which, if true, implies resolution with the next-gen of MBpros also getting a price jacking to make it logically "make sense" again.

It feels like there has been 500 threads about this product and not one has offered up a tangible guess at PRICE. All of them seem to have avoided it. And thus, the wall of enthusiasm for it is built atop us consumers guessing that this will be priced only a little higher than the existing MBair. I've even seen posts assuming existing will DROP in price and this bigger screened one taking its current price. That seems beyond doubtful to me. But we'll see in only a few days.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
7 months ago
I'm ready for 15" MacBook Air. I just hope it is carrying 120hz Pro-Motion Display.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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