New MacBooks revealed
Meet the revamped Air and tweaked Pro
Before WWDC got under way, rumours were spreading that Apple was going to launch at least one new MacBook at the show.
The strongest claims pointed towards the MacBook Air getting a complete redesign, and in the end, that idea proved to be bang on the money.
In fact, the MacBook Air got the most comprehensive facelift in its decade-plus history. Not only did it get a new Apple silicon chip (see ‘Next-gen M2 chip arrives’ to the right), but its entire chassis was updated and reformed. Gone is the familiar wedge shape that has become so closely identified with the MacBook Air over the years, replaced with a flat-edged design reminiscent of the 14-inch MacBook Pro.
But this is no chunky laptop. Apple says it’s cut the MacBook Air’s volume by 20% compared to the previous model, so even without the wedge, it’s still lighter and more portable. While the M1 MacBook Air’s thickest point is 1.61cm, on the M2 model it’s just 1.13cm. As for weight, the M2 MacBook Air is 50g lighter than its predecessor. And speaking of slimming down, the MacBook Air’s bezels underwent a serious weight-loss programme, enabling the display to expand to 13.6 inches diagonally across. It also means the bezels curve around the webcam cut-out, resulting in a notch akin to that on the MacBook Pro and iPhone.
The FaceTime camera was also upgraded from 720p to 1080p and there’s now a larger sensor and better low-light performance too. On the sides are two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports and the return of MagSafe, plus a 3.5mm headphone jack while the speakers have been improved and hidden between the keyboard and display.
Slightly more Pro
The MacBook Pro 13-inch was also updated, although in a much smaller way than the MacBook Air.
The main change lay in the introduction of the M2 chip, the same as the one you’ll find in the MacBook Air. That delivers a boost in performance over the M1 in the previous-gen MacBook Pro 13-inch, even if it still lags behind the M1 Pro and M1 Max available in the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.
The MacBook Pro 13-inch can also be fitted with up to 24GB of unified memory, while its built-in battery will last for up to 20 hours between recharges. MacBook Pro 13-inch prices start at £1,349, while the MacBook Air starts at just £1,249.