Apple plans to launch a new version of the MacBook Air with upgraded internals but the same design as the current version. The device was previously speculated to launch in April as part of the company's Spring event. However, it is now being reported that the launch of the new MacBook Air with an M4 chip will take place sooner than expected. We now have further evidence that the company will not launch the upcoming machines in the distant future.
New MacBook Air launch is imminent, as a private account on X shares an identifier belonging to the M4 chip
It was previously noted that stock for Apple's MacBook Air and iPad Air models is dwindling at Apple Stores around the world. This led us to speculate that the company could be planning to launch the new version of the machines fairly soon, as a shortage of stock indicates that a new model might be coming soon.
A private account on X (via MacRumors) has shared the identifiers of the forthcoming MacBook Air models, which belong to the company's M4 chip. This is another indicator that the device will launch sooner than expected. According to the X user, Apple will use the "T8132" chip for both models of the MacBook Air, including the 13-inch and 15-inch models. The identifier belongs to the M4 chip, which is currently available with the MacBook Pro models and the OLED iPad Pro.
Apple also unintentionally shared the files for the unreleased MacBook Air models with the macOS 15.2 update, hinting at the "Mac16,12" and "Mac16,13" references. Both of these references respond to the M4 variants of the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models. We have been hearing details on the new machines for a while, and it appears that the launch could be right around the corner. However, we would not expect a dedicated event for the launch, as the MacBook Air models are slated to come with the same external design as the current models.
On the inside, the M4 MacBook Air models could come with upgraded internals, which would enhance the devices' connectivity and performance. It is not clear at this stage what the performance would be like, but the computational and graphical gains would be lower than those of the M4 MacBook Pro due to the absence of a proper thermal solution.
We are also expecting the company to launch the new M4 iPad Air alongside the MacBook Air models, which would ditch the M3 chip as well similar to their 'Pro' counterpart. Furthermore, Apple will also announce the entry-level iPad and if we are lucky, all of these devices will launch alongside the highly-anticipated iPhone SE 4. We will keep you updated on the latest releases as soon as further information is available.
About the author: Ali Salman is a technology reporter for Wccftech mobile section with a specialized focus on Apple and the intellectual property that drives mobile innovation. He has cultivated a unique expertise in analyzing and deconstructing complex technology patents, translating dense legal and technical documents into clear, insightful reports on future products.
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