Last year we received the MacBook Air refresh, which not only featured Apple’s updated M2 silicone but also other changes such as the screen size from 13.3 inches to 13.6 inches, new color choices, a larger webcam and more screen space . Still, we’re already hearing rumors of a brand new Air for this year, which is interesting to say the least.
This would be the MacBook Air (2023), which reportedly has an M3 Apple chip and comes in two flavors: a 13-inch and a 15-inch model. And if certain rumors are to be believed, we could even see an announcement for an upcoming refresh once next month’s Apple Spring event takes place.
Of course, these are all conjecture based on rumours, so be sure to take all this with a healthy grain of salt until Apple makes an official announcement. But if this turns out to be true, the revelation could cause a huge stir among the Apple faithful, and rightly so.
MacBook Air (2023): to the point
- What is it? Apple’s refresh of the MacBook Air line
- When will it be available? Rumored in the second half of 2023, possibly even during Apple’s spring event.
- What will it cost? Most likely the same price as the current MacBook Air (M2, 2022), which would start at $1,199 USD (about £1,015 / AU$1,815)
MacBook Air (2023): release date
According to a recent rumor from DigiTimesthe MacBook Air (2023) would be released in the second half of 2023. The site reports that “the supply chain is more focused on the more affordable MacBook Air, which is expected to be updated in the second half of 2023…” Analyst Ross Young claimed it could even be so as soon as Aprilpossibly even at Apple’s spring event.
And Mark Gurman, writing for Bloomberg, claims it will be two MacBook Airs coming later this year. The first is a 13-inch and the second a 15-inch. Furthermore, we do not yet have a concrete release date for the renewal. However, if this rumor is correct, the release window corresponds to when new Apple laptops tend to come out.
MacBook Air (2023): price
While there have been no rumors of a price for the MacBook Air (2023), we can assume that the 13-inch version of the refresh will start around the same price as the current 13-inch 2022 model. That would be about $1,199 USD (about £1,015 / AU$1,815), although Apple may increase the price by $100, as they’ve done before as the silicon is updated again.
Meanwhile, the 15-inch version would probably cost a bit more. We could be looking at a few hundred dollars more, but this is conjecture since Apple hasn’t done that yet with its MacBook Air line.
MacBook Air (2023): specifications
As for the specs, one of the main rumors from DigiTimes claims that the 13.6 and 15.5-inch models may be equipped with a 3nm chip (meaning it will be an M3, coming from the 5nm process which is used with the M2 SoC). This was a rumor that started last year with the M2 Pro and Max, and it turned out to be false. Still, we could see some updated silicon from Apple for 2023 instead.
Analyst Ross Young also claimed that a 15-inch MacBook Air would also be coming. However, having a MacBook Air with a 15-inch screen could prove polarizing among the fan base. On the one hand, that model could appeal to those who want extra screen real estate, but at a much more affordable price. And if it has an M3 chip, it will boast some serious power.
On the other hand, this could serve to alienate buyers, as the release of a 2023 model just a year after the 2022 refresh would be a slap in the face to those who just bought the older version. And a 15-inch screen would be in a weird position market-wise, as the Air series – one of the best thin and light laptops – could end up getting bulky and a bit heavier.