Are M4 MacBook Airs Coming Sooner Than We Think?
A recent macOS update might have just spilled the beans on upcoming M4 MacBook Air models. MacRumors uncovered references to "Mac16,12" and "Mac16,13" identifiers, hinting at 13- and 15-inch variations of the M4 Air set to release in 2025.
A 2025 Release Confirms Rumors
While the idea of an M4 MacBook Air refresh for next year isn’t entirely surprising, this leak adds some weight to existing rumors. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, known for his accurate Apple predictions, indicated that the Air, along with the Mac Studio and Mac Pro, would be updated throughout 2025.
Apple’s Pattern of Sneak Peeks
This latest development follows a pattern Apple has used in recent macOS releases. Just a few months before the M4 Mac mini hit the shelves, a similar reference appeared in a macOS update. The M3 MacBook Air, released in March, also preceded by an apparent early hint in a macOS update.
What Can We Expect from the M4 MacBook Air?
The M4 chip, while not a revolutionary leap over the M3, brings some notable improvements.
This includes two extra CPU cores and support for three external displays (two external plus the built-in screen), compared to the previous limit of two. Expect a slightly decreased performance for demanding tasks,
since the M4 MacBook Air will likely be passively cooled.
The RAM Upgrade Prelude?
In another recent move, Apple increased the RAM in the M2 and M3 MacBook Air models to 16GB, without raising prices. While beneficial, this could signal increased memory demands for future Apple-developed AI features.
Is Apple setting the stage for an earlier-than-expected M4 MacBook Air launch? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!