Skip to main content

Two new Macs — including a new Air — could launch at WWDC

Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) has just been announced for this June, but people are already starting to wonder what the tech giant will reveal at the show. In a tantalizing piece of good news, we might have just had a hint at what will be on the menu.

The clue comes from journalist Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter. In it, the reporter explains that Apple could launch two new Macs at WWDC, with others set to come later in the year or in 2023.

Apple CEO, Tim Cook, stands on stage at the September 2021 Fall Apple Event.
Apple

The most likely Mac to make the cut at WWDC is the MacBook Air, according to the newsletter. We’ve known for months that Apple is planning a complete overhaul of its lightweight consumer laptop, with a new flat-edged design and multiple color options in the works.

However, the WWDC date is a slight departure from Gurman’s previous stance, as he formerly believed the MacBook Air might be released in time for the holiday period. That idea was at odds with other sources, such as reputable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who argued the laptop would likely launch around late summer or early fall.

Aside from the MacBook Air, Gurman’s newsletter says other WWDC candidates include the Mac Mini, the 24-inch iMac, and the 13-inch MacBook Pro. All three devices have been heavily rumored for this year, with the first of those perhaps the most likely prospect considering the Mac Mini line as a whole hasn’t been updated since 2020.

– New Macs coming soon-ish, including the new MacBook Air
– Internal iOS 16 builds are full of ties to the Apple headset, rOS
– iOS 16 to get notifications update, but no redesign. Redesigned iPad app switcher planned
– Health and Fitness upgrades coming.https://t.co/4ESTiJqaPK https://t.co/5b5H76uTJC

— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) April 10, 2022

WWDC would be a fitting time to unveil new Macs, Gurman explains, because it was at this same event in 2020 that Apple first announced that its computers would begin to transition away from Intel processors and toward its own chips. WWDC is also a developer-focused event, and showing off new Macs would give the audience an idea of software development possibilities in the years ahead.

Interestingly, the Power On newsletter offers a reminder that Apple is still planning new versions of the Mac Pro and the iMac Pro. The inclusion of the latter suggests Gurman is still confident that Apple will release an updated version of its larger all-in-one desktop, despite the company previously stating that the 27-inch iMac was “end of life.”

Gurman’s position lines up with other well-regarded Apple analysts, including Kuo and Ross Young, who also believe the larger iMac is due for a refresh (although perhaps not until 2023). That could offer some solace to anyone hoping for an update to the larger iMac in the not-too-distant future.

Alex Blake
In ancient times, people like Alex would have been shunned for their nerdy ways and strange opinions on cheese. Today, he…
If you buy one MacBook Air alternative, make it this one
The MacBook Air on a white table.

I see you. You're considering a flashy new MacBook Air -- perhaps one of the new M3 models or even the cheaper M2 configurations. I'm not going to sit here and pretend like that isn't a wise option to consider for your next laptop. These are excellent laptops, and that M2 model in particular is a solid value at a starting price of $999.

But let me make an appeal to you about a laptop that upends the value proposition of the MacBook Air in a number of ways. The laptop I'm talking about is the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (Q425MA). This is a laptop we reviewed earlier this year, but it continues to be the king of value. No other laptop you can buy right now offers this much bang for your buck -- the MacBook Air included.

Read more
The biggest threat to the MacBook this year might come from Apple itself
The MacBook Air on a white table.

MacBooks have held a dominant position in the laptop world for the past few years. Though there have been meaningful rivals from the Windows side of the aisle, the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro still feel like they hold an unshakeable lead at the moment.

But according to the latest reports, the most serious challenger to the MacBook's reign won't come from Windows -- it'll come from within Apple in the form of some very advanced new iPads.
What's a computer?

Read more