After considerable anticipation and delay, Apple is anticipated to introduce its new MacBook Air at the WWDC 2022 keynote later on Monday. While no official information about the new model have been released, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and TF International Securities’ analyst Ming-Chi Kuo have both suggested that the new MacBook Air model — called MacBook Air (2022) — will come in primarily three standard colour variants. Earlier reports stated that the new model would be available in a variety of colours. Gurman also speculated that Apple may have postponed the release of its 13-inch MacBook Pro and would not reveal it at WWDC. An Apple Authorised Reseller, on the other hand, was detected with hidden listings for both the new 13-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air.
Gurman claimed on Twitter that stories of the new MacBook Air coming in several colour options are “probably overblown” and false, as he believed the new device will only come in conventional Gold, Silver, and Space Gray colours. He did, however, mention a new Gold colour tint with a Champagne-like gloss, as well as a new Dark Blue colour comparable to last year’s iMac.
Kuo agreed with Gurman’s allegation and tweeted that the MacBook Air (2022) would most likely come in three normal colour options plus one new colour — rather than the rainbow-style colours previously planned for the iMac.
According to the expert, Apple will ship six to seven million units of the new MacBook Air in the second half of 2022. The prediction, however, is contingent on Quanta’s Shanghai capacity, which would only achieve the expected figure if the facility returned to pre-lockdown levels before the third quarter.
According to Kuo, the MacBook Air (2022) will be delivered faster than the MacBook Pro models since the former is likely to be made by Quanta and Foxconn, and the latter is manufactured at Quanta’s plants.
Gurman stated in his newsletter titled Power On that the MacBook Air (2022) would have a design “not dissimilar” to the current MacBook Pro models. This means that the MacBook Air may gain a notch this time.
Gurman went on to say that the new MacBook Air would have a pair of USB Type-C connectors, MagSafe charging, and Touch ID functionality. The new model is also expected to keep the 13-inch display size found on current MacBook Air models.
Apple was also expected to reveal a new 13-inch MacBook Pro as part of its new MacBook lineup. However, Gurman stated that the initial launch plans for the MacBook Pro have been halted due to Chinese lockdowns.
The Chinese lockdowns are also expected to have an influence on the availability of the new MacBook Air.
Gurman stated in his newsletter that he expects “shortages or non-immediate” availability of the new model due to factory shutdowns in the Chinese region.
In a tweet, he also speculated that Apple would opt not to introduce the new MacBook Air during the WWDC keynote due to manufacturing shutdowns in China and a release date difference.
Nonetheless, Apple Authorised Reseller B&H Photo Video had hidden product listings for a 14-inch MacBook Air and a 13-inch MacBook Pro, both of which were equipped with the M2 processor.
According to 9to5Mac, the B&H website has listings for the 14-inch MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro but no specifics.
It is possible that the postings are only placeholders based on rumours. However, the timing of their appearance on the Internet is intriguing.