When will Apple release new M2 powered Macs? Will it be on a macMini or a MacBook Air? Will we get a definitive answer at the Worldwide Developer Conference of 2022? And how will this decision affect the entire Mac lineup in the years to come?
Apple Macbook Pro 16 inch with touch bar. Focus on the MacBook Pro logo
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Apple's WWDC is of course the perfect place to announce the capabilities of the next-generation Apple Silicon and M2 chipset family. While Apple didn't announce the M1 chips at WWDC in 2020, it did present the Developer Transition Kit, a macMini-based desktop that uses the A12Z chipset from the iPad Pro but runs macOS. This allowed developers to have their ARM-based applications ready for use when new hardware arrived. Essentially, Apple queued up as much as possible before pulling Intel to the ARM switch.
Apple announced the M1 along with the Silicon-powered MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and macMini, ensuring the absence of the Osborne Effect on recent Intel-based laptops.
The transition from the M1 family to the default-named M2 family won't be as traumatic as the first moment from Intel to ARM, but the moving parts need to be handled with care. You have the introduction of the new Apple Silicon itself; macOS updates to accommodate new features and actual hardware available to consumers.
The MacBook Air has long been considered the leading machine for the first M2-based Macs, and if you expect Apple to be traditionally cautious, a new entry-level MacBook Pro and macMini models will launch alongside the Air between the mid and late. -October.
Still...
…there's a lot of talk at WWDC in June as a launch event for two new Macs. While there are various combinations of what these could be, the aforementioned MacBook Air and macMini are in the mix. Now, these could launch with upgraded M1 chips to offer more powerful options - having an M1 Pro and an M1 Max macMini in the portfolio adds flexibility - or Apple could run a similar game to October 2020 and reveal new hardware, new version in a single macOS and the new M2 chipset in the big power game.
Still...
…we've already had rumors of a new Mac being built ahead of an Apple event this year, and many were disappointed that the MacBook Air wasn't shown at the Peek Performance event in March. Is this repeatable?
Then there's the Mac Pro issue. Apple has stated that its entire line of Mac machines will switch to ARM-based Apple Silicon by the end of the year, with the Mac Pro notable for its Intel-ness. At some point, the biggest, worst, worst Mac will need both an update and a bit of PR push from a proud Apple. Wouldn't a presumably powered M1 Ultra Mac Pro - along with a faster macMini - be better than the entry-level consumer models that were in the limelight for WWDC? And wouldn't you want to complete the M1 series before moving on to M2?
Here is Tim Cook's critical decision. Stick to the path that pretty much mirrors the rest of Apple's product line, set up a biennial update cycle on the laptop and chipset; and finish all M1 versions on time. Or move forward with new technology and hardware, launch a whole new line of products in an unusual time frame, and break the schedule for the entire Mac family.
Now read the latest thoughts on when to buy a MacBook Air...
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