Rumors about MacBook Air 2021 have already started appearing. This is welcome news, because although we like the recent MacBook Air with M1, there is still room for improvement.
At the moment, there is not yet a ton of intel on this year’s MacBook Air, but we have the good authority that a big refresh is coming. New additions include the return of MagSafe charging, a feature not only available on the iPhone 12, but according to the discussion also to MacBook Pro 2021.
We also heard that the new MacBook Air should be lighter with (hopefully) thinner screen fields. This is what we know so far about the MacBook Air 2021.
MacBook Air 2021 Release Date
According to Apple insider Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, the newly redesigned MacBook Air will go on sale in the second half of 2021 or the last 2022. Gurman has a history of releasing deep Apple-Intel, many of which often prove to be true.
Since Apple added a new CPU to last year’s model, this may be the perfect time to pair the new chip with an updated design. While we strongly feel that 2021 will be the year of a new MacBook Air design, the ongoing effects of the coronavirus pandemic could hamper manufacturing plans.
MacBook Air 2021 price
The MacBook Air has always been the cheaper option to go with the Mac family. Although the current Air is likely to start at $ 999, the redesigned model will reportedly sit at a higher price level.
MacBook Air 2021 design
The reason you have to put up with the MacBook Air 2021 over the current MacBook Air with M1 is that it wants to be a major design upgrade.
Apart from MagSafe Charging, which is said to be re-launched throughout the MacBook range, the 2021 Air will apparently also be lighter. The current MacBook Air weighs 2.8 pounds, and some Windows laptops weigh less, such as the 2.6-pound Dell XPS 13.
The MacBook Air still has a solid edge around the screen, which is a scary inclusion, as other luxury laptops are almost without edge. But Bloomberg reports that Apple will make the Air smaller by “shrinking the border around the screen.”
As for fans hoping for a 15-inch version of the 2021 MacBook Air, there is bad news. According to Bloom Gurman, Mark Gurman, a 15-inch model is being considered, but the plans have been put in the background.
MacBook Air 2021 MagSafe Download
For longtime MacBook fans, MagSafe charging was seen as a defining feature, one that separated Apple from PCs. Unfortunately, Apple removed MagSafe due to fire safety issues and a switch to USB Type-C.
Rumor has it that Apple is bringing MagSafe back to its laptops, and we believe it will fall back on the redesigned MacBook Air 2021. Users are likely to be charging with MagSafe and USB Type-C, just like other laptops with their own charging plugs.
MacBook Air 2021 specifications
Last year, Apple introduced its new M1 chip to the MacBook Air. Reviewers were amazed at the level of performance that Apple’s new ARM-based chip provided, especially for an ultrabook.
There are two possible outcomes for a 2021 MacBook Air: a slightly upgraded M1 chip or the rumored M1X.
Because the MacBook Air is a thin and light machine, there is less room inside for cooling and heat loss. For this reason, we believe the new Air will receive a slightly upgraded M1 chip over the M1X. The M1X is currently rumored to be featured in this year’s MacBook Pro. Apple will probably want to reserve its most powerful laptop processor for the Pro line.
The 2021 MacBook Air is likely to feature specifications similar to the 2020 model. It contains 8 GB of RAM, a 256 or 512 GB SSD, a Retina display with True Tone, Magic Keyboard, Touch ID and two USB 4.0 ports.
MacBook Air 2021: What we want to see
A sharper webcam: The MacBook Air currently has a 720p webcam that is not very sharp. We prefer a full HD camera (1080p) for sharper images.
More colors: Currently, Apple is offering three colors for the MacBook Air in gold, silver and space gray. We say it’s time to shake things up. Maybe Apple should draw inspiration from the iPad Air, which is silver, space gray, rose gold, green and sky blue.
More ports: Although we do not see it changing, it does not hurt to wish for it. The MacBook Air includes two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports and a headphone jack. It would be nice to see a large USB-A port or even an SD card slot, although we hear that the latter is coming to the new MacBook Pro 2021.
Thinner edges: Apple eventually woke up with the 16-inch MacBook Pro, but since then the design of the Air has not updated. We say you decorate the borders so you can get the same screen in a smaller chassis.