New Apple Leaks Reveal The MacBook Pro You Must Avoid

Apple’s MacBook Air M2, launched 2022’s Worldwide Developer Conference, is nearing the end of its life; the latest signpost is the reduced production of the M2 chipset driving the consumer laptop. With this year’s WWDC coming up in June, the launch of the MacBook Air M3 is looking like a good bet.

This new Air is going to bring more power to a consumer laptop that is more than most consumers need, thanks to the M3 chipset. A new MacBook Air with a larger 15-inch screen is also expected in the near future for those needing something a bit bigger.

There’s going to be a new MacBook Pro as well. And everyone should avoid it.

Izmir, Turkey – January 10, 2022: Half opened Apple Brand M1 Model Macbook pro laptop computer with … [+] purple and blue colored lights

getty

When the MacBook line ran on Intel silicon, it was easy to understand the two roles of the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro… the former focused on being light and portable at the expense of performance, and the latter focused on power and performance in a heavier laptop.

With the launch of Apple Silicon, Tim Cook and his team changed that equation. The M1 chipset debuted on the MacBook Air in 2020, offering similar power to the last Intel MacBook Pros. Consumers could have the performance they needed with the portability they strived for.

Apple Silicon’s promise of power was extended with the M1 Pro and M1 Max arriving in two new sizes of MacBook Pro with 14-inch and 16-inch variants. These MacBook Pro models stretched away and put the professional into pro. As for the MacBook Air, Apple delivered a great laptop to consumers needing a macOS machine.

And then there was the 13-inch MacBook Pro M1. Launched alongside the M1 MacBook Air, it offered a step up in power from the Air and was briefly the most powerful MacBook on the market until the larger Pro laptops appeared. The 13-inch MacBook Pro found itself down on power compared to the top end, and squeezed by the power already available in the MacBook Air. It offered the worst of worlds.

Perhaps there was an argument for launching the Apple Silicon laptops with an Air and a Pro, but it didn’t take long for the 13-inch MacBook Pro to be superseded.

For some inexplicable reason, Apple continued to offer the 13-inch MacBook Pro with the launch of the M2 chipset… it stayed slightly ahead of the M2 MacBook Air for a significant premium, while the larger MacBook Pro laptops screamed ahead in terms of performance.

Now it looks like Apple is about to double down on the awkward and ill-defined MacBook Pro. With the third version of the Apple Silicon deskbound chip – the presumptively named M3 – on deck to be revealed at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference in June, everyone is looking forward to the next MacBook Air and another step up in performance of the consumer laptop.

Those needing power are looking at the larger laptops, those looking for an all-rounder will take the M3 Air, and those more focused on value for money will be hoping the M2 Air becomes the entry-level MacBook at $999. And that’s before we throw an attractive 15-inch MacBook Air into the mix.

Apple is seen as a company that delivers on customer expectations. Who’s waiting on another anemic 13-inch MacBook Pro?

Now read the latest Mac, iPhone, and AirPods headlines in Forbes weekly Apple Loop column…

Read More
Ewan Spence

Latest

Smoke-Free Drive! Lahore to Suspend Licences of Drivers of Smoke-Emitting Vehicles

Lahore traffic authorities have taken a tough step against air pollution. Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Syed Abdul Raheem Shirazi announced that drivers of smoke-emitting vehicles will now have their driving licences suspended. Commercial vehicles that break emission rules may also lose their route permits. The decision is part of a zero-tolerance campaign to reduce smog

Australian small business sales cool off in the June quarter

Xero economist Louise Southall says small businesses are “thinking carefully” before hiring as rate rises and fuel costs bite. Key insights: New Xero Small Business Insights data shows Australian small business sales growth eased to 6.5 per cent year-on-year in the June quarter, down from a two-year high of 7.9 per cent in Q1. Hospitality, retail

Sri Lanka prepares for impending El Niño with traditional and new approaches

According to traditional Sri Lankan paddy farmers, long dry spells have occurred every four to seven years. Sri Lanka has experienced around 25-26 El Niño events from 1950 to date, out of which only three have been strong El Niño events, meteorology department officials say. The irrigation department has introduced new water-saving techniques such as

Liverpool in contact with former Chelsea defender

Liverpool continue their pre-season campaign with a friendly against Premier League rivals Leeds United on Sunday.  Rio Ngumoha’s goal earned the Reds a narrow 1-0 victory over Wrexham in their last outing, and new manager Andoni Iraola will hope to see his side build on that result when they face the Whites in Chicago, Illinois.

Newsletter

Don't miss

Smoke-Free Drive! Lahore to Suspend Licences of Drivers of Smoke-Emitting Vehicles

Lahore traffic authorities have taken a tough step against air pollution. Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Syed Abdul Raheem Shirazi announced that drivers of smoke-emitting vehicles will now have their driving licences suspended. Commercial vehicles that break emission rules may also lose their route permits. The decision is part of a zero-tolerance campaign to reduce smog

Australian small business sales cool off in the June quarter

Xero economist Louise Southall says small businesses are “thinking carefully” before hiring as rate rises and fuel costs bite. Key insights: New Xero Small Business Insights data shows Australian small business sales growth eased to 6.5 per cent year-on-year in the June quarter, down from a two-year high of 7.9 per cent in Q1. Hospitality, retail

Sri Lanka prepares for impending El Niño with traditional and new approaches

According to traditional Sri Lankan paddy farmers, long dry spells have occurred every four to seven years. Sri Lanka has experienced around 25-26 El Niño events from 1950 to date, out of which only three have been strong El Niño events, meteorology department officials say. The irrigation department has introduced new water-saving techniques such as

Liverpool in contact with former Chelsea defender

Liverpool continue their pre-season campaign with a friendly against Premier League rivals Leeds United on Sunday.  Rio Ngumoha’s goal earned the Reds a narrow 1-0 victory over Wrexham in their last outing, and new manager Andoni Iraola will hope to see his side build on that result when they face the Whites in Chicago, Illinois.

This $29 rack fixed my out-of-control keyboard and mouse collection

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn't affect our editorial independence . Australian Editor, PCWorld A simple acrylic rack keeps my 5+ gaming keyboards and mice organized, stacked, and within reach. Goodbye desk clutter, hello sanity. One thing I’ve learned over the years is that there’s

Global Business Travel Spending to Hit Record $1.71 Trillion in 2026, While Trips Reach 1.84 Billion, Says GBTA Forecast

In Brief: GBTA’s latest Business Travel Index report shows spending gains driven by higher prices as geopolitical uncertainty and transportation pressures weigh on the outlook Global Business Travel Spending to Hit Record $1.71 Trillion in 2026, While Trips Reach 1.84 Billion, Says GBTA Forecast - Image Credit Unsplash+    Global business travel spending is forecast to

Boulevard Business Park: Saudi Arabia’s Bold Bet on Mixed-Use Development

Boulevard Business Park Saudi Arabia has marked another milestone in its urban and entertainment transformation with the completion of the Kingdom’s first entertainment-focused business park and corporate resort. This remarkable achievement reflects a new approach to commercial development that thoughtfully blends business, hospitality and leisure within a single destination. More Than an Office Park Located

How Chaoshan Business Was Built on Morals, Not Contracts

This is the second article in a series on China's southern Chaoshan region, exploring the history, culture, and identities behind its recent resurgence in the spotlight. Read Part 1. In the Chinatowns of early 20th-century Bangkok, Chinese laborers who had just collected their wages would make their way to the qiaopiju, a private institution that