In my opinion, Apple's design decisions with the new MBA are a missed opportunity. Instead, they should have released TWO devices to better differentiate their product line while covering more ground - as is, too many people of too many different stripes will be underserved, and Apple's product line will not make as much sense as it could.
What Apple DID do with the MBA was confuse their product line while failing to cover all bases.
Here's what I think Apple SHOULD have done:
Here's where it would get interesting: new Macbook Air should have returned to the model's roots as a premium device offering premium features with maximum portability. Base Macbook would offer portability with entry-level features, MBP offers premium features at the cost of portability, and a new MBA would offer portability with premium features - a glorious trifecta.
As netizens everywhere have observed, many people want the premium features of the MBP but don't like the compromises and focus on performance. With the extreme performance of the pro M1 chips (who actually needs that many 4k or 8k streams anyway?), most of its users will in no way test its limits - but they WILL suffer its tradeoffs. Maximum performance always comes at the cost of size, weight, heat, complexity and noise (fans), and battery life, and I along with many other users don't want to accept those tradeoffs. We DO, on the other hand, want the premium screen (XDR, mini-led, ProMotion), the connectivity, and the multi-monitor support.
The solution is to accomplish two things with the MBA:
Ultimately, the new MBA should have been a premium device balancing the MBP and reflecting the other side of the its trade-offs:
We would then have three tiers with two choices each:
What do YOU think about this strategy? What do you think about Apple's actual strategy?
What Apple DID do with the MBA was confuse their product line while failing to cover all bases.
- New MBA introduces new, premium price which implicitly admits that it is NOT an entry-level device, since the M1 MBA sticks around, which will disappoint casual users.
- At the same time, it does not offer premium features, which will disappoint premium users.
Here's what I think Apple SHOULD have done:
- Release both a new Macbook Air (to offer premium features to premium users) AND a new "Macbook" line (to satisfy casual users).
- New Macbook would have mirrored the iMac, as the rumor mill had suggested it might:
- Bright colors, baseline specs, baseline price (eg $999) - properly replacing the M1 MBA as the entry-level Macbook and appealing to millions of casual users who will be put off by the dour colors of the new (actual) MBA as well as its higher price.
- This would increase symmetry and sensibility in the product line by reflecting the entry-level iMac which will surely be followed eventually by an iMac Pro. MB/MBPro + iMac/iMacPro.
- TWO screen sizes: 14 and 16, to reflect the MBP and offer the large screen, entry-level device so many people clearly want.
Here's where it would get interesting: new Macbook Air should have returned to the model's roots as a premium device offering premium features with maximum portability. Base Macbook would offer portability with entry-level features, MBP offers premium features at the cost of portability, and a new MBA would offer portability with premium features - a glorious trifecta.
As netizens everywhere have observed, many people want the premium features of the MBP but don't like the compromises and focus on performance. With the extreme performance of the pro M1 chips (who actually needs that many 4k or 8k streams anyway?), most of its users will in no way test its limits - but they WILL suffer its tradeoffs. Maximum performance always comes at the cost of size, weight, heat, complexity and noise (fans), and battery life, and I along with many other users don't want to accept those tradeoffs. We DO, on the other hand, want the premium screen (XDR, mini-led, ProMotion), the connectivity, and the multi-monitor support.
The solution is to accomplish two things with the MBA:
- Return to its roots as a premium device for users who want the best but prioritize portability over performance.
- Resurrect and perfect the ideals of the 2015 Macbook. That device was confusing at the time because it couldn't offer premium performance despite a premium price, it was handicapped in silly ways (single, non-Thunderbolt port), and its labeling suggested it was less special than the MBA. Apple should have fixed all this with the new MBA, and with M, it could have done it easily.
Ultimately, the new MBA should have been a premium device balancing the MBP and reflecting the other side of the its trade-offs:
- Premium screen - XDR, mini-led, ProMotion, the works.
- Option of M2 or M2 Pro: more ports, (3rd or 4th USB-C on right side), more external screens, and possible thermal throttling, but that compromise is acceptable given the priorities of the device.
- Especially sexy form factor - I haven't seen it in person, but the new design seems less special than it should and too predictable, too much a little brother of the MBP. In fact, I think both the 2015 Macbook and M1 MBA are far better looking with a leading edge that is strikingly thin and gorgeous.
- TWO screen options: 12in and 14in. Like the 2015 MB, the 12in model should be the ULTIMATE premium portable machine with no sore points. There is just no reason this device should not exist in the age of M when it did exist in the dark days of 2015 Intel.
We would then have three tiers with two choices each:
- Macbook: entry-level, 14in/16in
- Macbook Air: premium, 12in/14in, portability over performance
- Macbook Pro: premium, 14in/16in, performance over portability
What do YOU think about this strategy? What do you think about Apple's actual strategy?