Apple could be gearing up to launch the MacBook Air 2022, as rumours suggest a reveal could happen as soon as WWDC on 6 June 2022.
The next MacBook Air is expected to be upgraded with an entirely new design, with many reports suggesting it will be thinner and lighter than its predecessors. Well known Apple leaker Jon Prosser suggests that Apple could spice up the range with multiple colour options, following the same path as the iMac 2021. It was previously expected that the MacBook Air 2022 would also get a performance upgrade via a new Apple M2 chip, but Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo now suggests that Apple may stick with the existing M1 chip instead. Other upgrades possibly on the cards include a Mini-LED screen, a 1080p webcam and MagSafe charging. Keep reading to find out everything we know about the MacBook Air, and make sure to bookmark this page as we will be consistently updating as new news comes out. 
Release date
The MacBook Air 2022 is expected to launch this year, although there have been conflicting reports regarding which month it could become available. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says that Apple is aiming to launch the MacBook Air 2022 at the upcoming WWDC 2022 event, which takes place on 6th June 2022. However, the recent supply chain issues due to Covid-19 may have derailed those plans. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously said that the MacBook Air will launch in the late second quarter or the early third quarter of 2022, which seemingly puts the date between August and September. Either way, it looks highly likely that’s we’ll seen the new MacBook Air before the end of the year. Price There has been little information on the pricing of the MacBook Air, so it’s hard to gauge how much the new machine will cost. However, Apple does typically retain a similar price point when moving on to new laptop generations, which could mean the MacBook Air 2022 will see a starting price of £999(~S$1723.47). We also expect that there to be more expensive configurations, with variables like storage and chipsets likely to change the price. Specs The MacBook Air 2022 was originally expected to be upgraded with a new Apple M2 chip, acting as a replacement to the existing M1 chip. The M2 is expected to pack the same number as CPU cores (8) as its predecessor, but the move from 5nm to 4nm architecture should still result in faster processing speeds. By adopting a smaller 4nm transistor node, Apple would be able to stuff the chip with more transistors, therefore resulting in a more efficient performance. We may also see a higher maximum GPU count, increasing from 8 to 10. This would provide a faster graphics performance, making the laptop more equipped to handles the likes of video editing. 
However, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has now said that MacBook Air may not be upgraded with the M2 chip after all. With delays to the supply chain, the technology required for the M2 processor may not be ready until 2023 at the earliest. As a result, Kuo suggests Apple may stick with the existing M1 chip instead.
There haven’t been many reports on whether Apple will alter its storage and memory offerings, so it’s likely that Apple won’t change these specs for the next MacBook Air. The base model currently sports 256GB storage and 8GB memory. And since the latest MacBook Pro 2021 set a precedent with the inclusion of Mini LED displays, the 2022 machine could adopt the same technology. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro also benefits from a Mini LED panel, so it would make sense for Apple to move it over onto its latest laptop release. 
Apple leaker Mark Gurman has backed up reports indicating that MacBook Air 2022 could feature a Mini LED display, although suggests it will miss out on ProMotion technology, which sees screen’s refresh rate boosted beyond 60Hz.
It’s also possible that Apple will upgrade the webcam. For its most recent iterations of the MacBook Pro, Apple upgraded the 720p resolution up to 1080p, resulting in sharper capture. It would make a lot of sense for Apple to adopt this feature for the next iteration of the MacBook Air. Design The MacBook Air’s design could see a major overhaul in 2022, with reports suggesting the laptop could become lighter and thinner to make it even more portable. The existing MacBook Air M1 hits the scales at 1.29kg, but there are plenty of rival laptops that weigh as little as 1kg. Since the MacBook Air doesn’t require a fan to operate, it’s very possible that Apple could cut the laptop’s weight to hit that figure. Many have suggested that the next MacBook Air won’t have the same wedge-shaped design, opting out for a uniform look, in the same vein as the MacBook Pro. MacRumors also reported on the idea that the laptop could come with thinner off-white bezels, which would make sense if Apple leaker Jon Prosser’s suggestions are true. Prosser suggests that the MacBook Air will be available in multiple colours, just like the iMac. Prosser has published some renders of the potential colour options, which you can check out below. 
Credit: Jon Prosser
Credit: Jon Prosser
MagSafe charging could also make a comeback, following its inclusion on the latest MacBook Pro. MagSafe is a magnetic connection for charging the laptop, which automatically releases when somebody trips over the wire to prevent damage to the laptop.
Apple is also set to stick with the USB-C port, with rectangular-shaped USB-A connections unlikely to return.  Comments are closed.
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