What’s next for Mac? Is the 15in MacBook Air imminent?

Your Mac is so old its system font is based on hieroglyphics. Time to upgrade! But what if when you do, Apple releases another, better Mac, for less money? That’s the worry. The old one might’ve been a regular showing in our best laptop list – but won’t it get bumped for the new one?

This article can help. We’ve explored the current state of play with Apple’s Mac line-up, interpreted the rumour coos of the patented prediction pigeon, and for each model offered a shiny ‘Stuff says’ buying recommendation.

And yes, we look at the possibility of a 15in MacBook Air coming soon, perhaps at WWDC 2023, Apple’s dev conference starting on 5 June. And there are several other rumours about what Macs might be launched at that event as you’ll learn below.

Also check out our main guide to the different MacBooks available: Which is the best MacBook for you? Apple MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro.

MacBook Air

The state of play: The M1 MacBook Air rocked up in late 2020. We liked its innards (great battery; zoomy chip; fab display) but were less enamored by the chunky bezels on the unchanged case – and the rubbish webcam. Then Apple revealed the M2 MacBook Air at its developer conference (WWDC) in 2022. It brought a new design that fixed our issues with the old one, along with the new M2 processor that delivers more power, a better keyboard and MagSafe charging.

What’s next: Now that the M2-powered MacBook Air is the real deal, its design should stay current for at least a few years – even if the underlying components get renewed annually. A 15in MacBook Air (with M2 power) is strongly reported to rock up shortly at the 2023 Apple developer conference (WWDC23). If that is running M3 silicon, then expect the standard 13in model to get an upgrade as well.

Stuff says: If you don’t need pro-grade power, the M2 MacBook Air is the Apple laptop to buy, though it’s difficult to ignore the bang-for-buck of the older M1 version. Soon there’ll be no shortage of options, though: with 15in a bigger screen is always nice, but it’s getting trickier to pick the perfect model for you.

MacBook Pro

The state of play: The MacBook Pro with M1 arrived alongside the M1-powered Air in late 2020. The 13in case was dated even then, and it continues to linger like a bad smell today. The 14in MacBook Pro and 16in MacBook Pro that turned up in 2021 were a breath of fresh air, with a new design, revamped display, better camera and improved I/O. The Touch Bar got deleted, too. Those models used M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, which have since been replaced with more powerful M2 Pro and M2 Max versions – as seen in our 2023 16in MacBook Pro review.

What’s next: M3 Pro and M3 Max are the obvious additions, likely due in 2024. Apple’s said to be exploring eye-searing OLED displays and Face ID too (about time!). Expect the case design to stay the same, though. Some rumours suggest the 13in MacBook Pro will get an upgrade to M3 soon, but we think it will be discontinued.

Stuff says: The sheer power of the 14in and 16in models means that even if Apple updates them early next year, today’s versions will still be a good investment.

Mac Mini

The state of play: The Mac Mini is still using the case from the 2018 model, and the guts from what’s inside the M2 MacBook Air but with a few extra ports (2x USB-A, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet). It’s now a little bit cheaper for the standard Mac Mini M2 version but it is also available with the M2 Pro should you want more power. There’s now no Intel version available.

What’s next: The Mac Mini might be next updated when there’s an M3 chip – or Apple might skip a generation and go straight to M4. No news on a redesign of a case that’s now best and most charitably described as ‘classic’.

Stuff says: If you want a desk-bound Mac, you’d do a lot worse than to get one of these.

iMac

The state of play: We weren’t convinced about the April 2021 M1 iMac on seeing photos of it, but on review discovered it’s a beauty. Well, at least in purple (Ed: and yellow). It’s a solid performer too, if since eclipsed by M1/M2 Pro and M1/M2 Max Macs.

What’s next: An M2 iMac to replace the M1 version now seems off the cards, given how close Apple must be to M3 silicon. We doubt the design will change. Perhaps the colours will, with Apple ditching unpopular hues and adding new ones. Further in the future, expect a mini LED panel with ProMotion and FaceTime. Apple has also tested Face ID for the Mac.

There’s also the thorny issue of the 27in iMac, which Apple killed after the iMac Pro which Apple also killed. Rumours are mixed whether Apple will replace it. If it does, assume it’ll have design language close to the MacBook Pro: black bezels and boring grey. Or maybe it’ll be an Apple Studio Display with an iMac inside rather than an iPad – and hopefully a better camera too…

Stuff says: Tricky one. The 24in iMac is great, and the timeframe around updates is unclear and has long been uneven. Maybe hold off unless you’re totally sold on one specific colour.

Mac Studio

The state of play: We reviewed the Mac Studio, the latest entry in Apple’s Mac line-up, in March 2022. Our verdict? It’s great, but surprisingly noisy.

What’s next: An M2 Ultra version of the Studio is seemingly on the way very soon (an M2 Max version may or may not be available). And we think this is probably coming at WWDC23, so imminently. We’d hope any update would let the fan power down when the unit’s idle, mind.

Stuff says: Wait.

Mac Pro

The state of play: We last coo’d at the Mac Pro in person during WDC 2019. We can say for sure: 1) it looks great; 2) it at the time was insanely powerful, and; 3) the very serious Apple guardian near the wheeled unit we saw didn’t take kindly to a quip it’d be fun to “ride around on, like in a game of Mario Kart”.

What’s next: Apple’s stated the Mac Pro will be the last Mac to shift to Apple silicon, but there’s no timeframe, rumours suggest problems and it is late although it is highly probable we will get some kind of mention of it at WWDC23. It’s unlikely the design will change much – pros need quick access to the Mac’s innards to add and remove components. As for the chip, fused Ultras are rumoured, dubbed ‘Extreme’. An M2 or M3 Extreme is therefore on the cards, given that M2-series chips have now been around most of a year.

Stuff says: Don’t buy the current Mac Pro, unless you’re made of money and want that silly and expensive real-world Mario Kart experience. It now underperforms for the price and will be replaced by something much better within a relatively short timeframe. The Mac Studio is currently a better option for you if you need a proper Pro level desktop.

Now read: Which is the best MacBook for you?