As an avid user of the best MacBooks – when my last laptop gave up the ghost, I went out and bought a 13-inch MacBook Air (albeit an M1 model, not 2022's redesigned M2 version, as I was tight on cash) – I am so here for the rumoured arrival of a 15-inch MacBook Air from Apple.
Right now, however, the supposed 15-inch MacBook is nothing more than imaginary – with speculation pointing to Apple's June 2023 WWDC showcase for the reveal – but a strong rumour that seems increasingly likely. And it's already got me thinking rather fondly about Apple's yet-to-be-released laptop.
So what features would a 15-inch MacBook Air need to bring to the table to be an immediate purchase? I'm already in the MacOS ecosystem, sure, but the 16-inch MacBook Pro is too pricey (and probably too powerful) for my needs, while the 13-inch MacBook Air, despite its strengths, does still have shortcomings. So here are the three features I'd like to see from an all-new 15-inch MacBook...
1. Minimal bezel, maximal screen
I know, it's kind of obvious: a 15-inch MacBook would need to bring a bigger screen. The clue's in the name, as it's believed Apple will use a 15.5-inch panel, meaning it's not a million miles away from the 16-inch MacBook Pro that's already available.
However, there are ways I'd like to see Apple deliver this to better effect: namely minimise the bezel to make more screen fit into less available space. I can just about cope with the screen notch up top, where the cameras will be housed, which I'll assume is a given at this point.
But I don't want Apple to mess around with the 16:10 aspect ratio that's been MacBook standard for years, as that works just fine for majority of tasks. And the rumours suggest the 15-inch model will forego the faster refresh-rate of Pro Motion, i.e. it'll be 60Hz rather than 120Hz, but that's a differentiator the MacBook Pro models offer and I'm fine with that if the balance of price is fair.
2. Silent, fanless design
Current thinking is that a 15-inch MacBook Air will come fitted with Apple's M2 silicon. And I don't expect that'll mean M2 Pro or M2 Max options in this particular fit. Which, I think, for an Air product is the right move.
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Why? Because I don't want a MacBook Air that's going to require 'Active Cooling' as Apple calls it – or fan-based cooling as pretty much every other human calls it. I don't want the thickness associated with cooling, nor do I want the noise. Silent operation is bliss.
The compromise? Well, if Apple delivers a fanless M2 design, as it does in the 13-inch Air, then the 15-inch MacBook Air is going to be throttled. It won't deliver on Pro-level of potential, therefore, but again I'm fine with this – because a large part of the point of this rumoured Mac is to get all that's great about Air, just at a bigger scale.
3. More ports!
This might be wishful thinking: I want a MacBook Air with more ports. And while I'd love it to include an SD card slot (yes, I'm one of those camera users!), I can't truly foresee that happening. Same with HDMI: I'd love to see an HDMI 2.1 port for 4K/120Hz output, but that's the reserve of the Pro models and can't foresee the 15-inch Mac following suit.
But I do think that Apple really needs to utilise the inevitably larger chassis of a 15-inch MacBook in creative ways, including offering more ports. An extra Thunderbolt 4/USB-C port on the opposite side of the existing two would be an obvious starting point.
However, like with the M2-toting 13-inch MacBook Air, I do suspect the 15-inch model will come with Magsafe charging, which is helpful for opening up an extra port. But also on the wishlist is that fast-charging is supported out of the box: I've previously written about which MacBooks ship with which speed of charger, so here's hoping for a 140W plug as standard.
Mike is T3's Tech Editor. He's been writing about consumer technology for 15 years and his beat covers phones – of which he's seen hundreds of handsets over the years – laptops, gaming, TV & audio, and more. There's little consumer tech he's not had a hand at trying, and with extensive commissioning and editing experience, he knows the industry inside out. As the former Reviews Editor at Pocket-lint for 10 years where he furthered his knowledge and expertise, whilst writing about literally thousands of products, he's also provided work for publications such as Wired, The Guardian, Metro, and more.