2020 Macbook Lineup Predictions

[frosty18]

I've been considering what the 2020 MacBook lineup could potentially look like given that Apple is pretty much guaranteed to give the entire line the magic keyboard treatment. This is what I have so far:

13 inch MacBook Air
- 128 GB SSD
- 8 GB RAM
- same bezels
- magic keyboard
- 2 USB-C ports
- $999 starting price (makes it seem much more attainable to people)

14 inch MacBook Pro
- 256 GB SSD
- 16 GB RAM
- thinner bezels
- 4 USB-C ports on all configs
- Also proper side ventilation on all models (the base model currently has vents right where your legs go, huge issue)
- $1,299 - $1,399 (no more higher tier with more ports)

16 inch MacBook Pro
- possible spec bump?

I think that apple needs to do more to separate the Air and Pro. The 14 inch screen size and double the RAM and SSD standard would definitely be nice. Hopefully the price doesn't get too out of control on the 14 inch, if they can maintain the current $1,299 starting price with double the storage I think they have a home run! Let me know what you think of this potential lineup and when you think we'll see a MacBook refresh, I'm hoping for March (fingers crossed) or WWDC at the latest.

 

[kingtj]

I won't attempt to predict any specifics on these? But I will say I agree that the Air seems like it's becoming pointless, except serving as a placeholder to keep the product line alive.

Everyone I know who was using the Macbook Air in a work setting has moved on to a 13" Macbook Pro as their latest replacement machine, when they needed one -- and hasn't looked back.

 

[cmaier]

I’m hoping for the 16” spec-bump with intel 10th gen and wifi 6. I used to buy a new MBP every 2 years, but I’m still on a 2016. I figure I’ll keep the next one a long time, too, and I’d rather buy one with some extra life in it.

 

[Mainsail]

I agree with the $999 price point for the Air. That’s the sweet spot for the MBA. Not sure they can change the keyboard and still hit this price point. A new keyboard would probably require a complete redesign of the bottom half of the computer, which means new parts and production tooling. So, it might be a bit of a stretch to get the lower price and a whole new MBA design.

 

[Ybersetzer]

4 inch MacBook Pro
- 256 GB SSD
- 16 GB RAM
- thinner bezels
- 4 USB-C ports on all configs
- Also proper side ventilation on all models (the base model currently has vents right where your legs go, huge issue)
- $1,299 - $1,399 (no more higher tier with more ports)

That price looks like wishful thinking to me. Upgrade to 256 GB SSD and 16 GB of RAM is a 400 Dollar value in the US right now (in Europe it's even more: 490 Euro (!), and at a starting price of 1499 Euro ....). So with your pricing one would be an even bigger fool to buy the Air.

I do agree/wish (ha, wishful thinking is a mighty force ;-)) though that Apple is going to bump up EITHER harddrive capacity or RAM. Probably the latter.

I am looking to upgrade my 2015 Air (8 GB RAM, 128 SSD) this year and so far the specs I'd LIKE (16 GB RAM, 256 SSD) come to 1989 Euro list price from Apple (retail is cheaper of course, but not a whole lot) for a 13 inch Macbook Pro or 1739 Euro for Macbook Air with the same specs. And that is outside
my budget ....

 

[frosty18]

I agree with the $999 price point for the Air. That’s the sweet spot for the MBA. Not sure they can change the keyboard and still hit this price point. A new keyboard would probably require a complete redesign of the bottom half of the computer, which means new parts and production tooling. So, it might be a bit of a stretch to get the lower price and a whole new MBA design.

That's very true but I just can't see them releasing an updated Air with the butterfly keyboard. Also the cost of making a new chassis is probably offset by the cost of fixing the keyboards for free (out of warranty is $700 for a new bottom case).

Guess we'll have to wait and see, I'm definitely looking forward to the updated Pro for sure, as long as it doesn't start at $1,800 like the 2016 touchbars did.
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I won't attempt to predict any specifics on these? But I will say I agree that the Air seems like it's becoming pointless, except serving as a placeholder to keep the product line alive.

Everyone I know who was using the Macbook Air in a work setting has moved on to a 13" Macbook Pro as their latest replacement machine, when they needed one -- and hasn't looked back.

I'm in college and you mostly see MacBook Pros, some retina's but mostly the new gen. the air just isn't justified especially given how thin the Pro's are now. They definitely need to differentiate them more.

 

[Useless Touchbar]

Base models:

13" MacBook Air
- A14X
- 8GB RAM
- 128GB SSD
- Wifi 6
- New keyboard
- Two ports
- $999

14" MacBook Pro
- i5-1035G7
- 8GB RAM
- 256GB SSD
- New keyboard
- Slimmer bezels
- Bigger battery
- Wifi 6
- 4 ports and improved cooling with two fans on all models
- $1399

16" MacBook Pro
- 10th Gen Intel H-series processors
- Wifi 6
- Same Navi graphics
- Same RAM/SSD config
- New miniLED display
- $2399

 

[high heaven]

MacBook Air 2020
CPU: Ice Lake Y, Comet Lake Y, or ARM.

MacBook Pro 13 inch
CPU: AMD Ryzen 4000 U series or Ice Lake U series

MacBook Pro 16 inch
CPU: AMD Ryzen 4000 H series or Intel H series

 

[Mainsail]

That's very true but I just can't see them releasing an updated Air with the butterfly keyboard. Also the cost of making a new chassis is probably offset by the cost of fixing the keyboards for free (out of warranty is $700 for a new bottom case).

Guess we'll have to wait and see, I'm definitely looking forward to the updated Pro for sure, as long as it doesn't start at $1,800 like the 2016 touchbars did.
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I'm in college and you mostly see MacBook Pros, some retina's but mostly the new gen. the air just isn't justified especially given how thin the Pro's are now. They definitely need to differentiate them more.

You could be right, but a new keyboard means a big redesign of the MBA, which they just did less than a year and a half ago. I really wonder how big of an issue the 2019 BF keyboard is for Apple. They definitely had problems with the older ones. The latest iteration might not be causing nearly as many failures under warranty. The 2019 MBA has been out for over 8 months. I rarely hear of KB problems. Almost right out of the box, the MR boards were full of complaints about the older versions. Of course, this is all anecdota.

 

[Falhófnir]

In terms of an evidence based prediction, we don't have a huge amount to go on (well, actually there's lots of semi-conflicting info) but it seems that there will be a 13" MacBook Pro refresh sometime soon, and additionally Kuo suggested that the Air will get the magic KB at some point this year (also interestingly that the 15" Pro would get it, don't know if this is a mistake or if it will return as a larger version of the 13" (integrated graphics/ 15-28W CPU) at a suitably lower price point). As yet there's no supporting evidence for a 14" MacBook Pro, and indeed Phil Schiller specifically poured cold water on the speculation so on balance I'd say not going to happen this year if it does at all. Interestingly there's several yet to be released Mac models from a previous filing as well...

Early 2020:

• Refreshed (28W) 13" Pro with magic keyboard

Mid 2020:

• First Arm MacBooks at WWDC?
• Refreshed (Arm?) MacBook Air (and 15W (Intel/AMD) version of the MBP as well)?

Late 2020:

• mini LED refresh of the 16" MacBook Pro