The 2022 MacBook Air is expected to get a major design upgrade. Based on the clues currently available, the technology media AppleInsider has produced a high-definition rendering of what it might look like. The MacBook Air’s form factor hasn’t changed since it was shown out of the envelope in 2008, though that will change with the release of the M2 chip.
Like the redesigned 24-inch iMac, the new MacBook Air will feature a thinner, lighter chassis and come in bright colorways. The renders produced show off-white bezels, a notched display, and a white keyboard.
The tapered shell design has always been a hallmark of the MacBook Air, but its thinness is an illusion, as there is a raised ramp to accommodate its internal components. Now, Apple can fit everything into a case just wide enough to accommodate a Thunderbolt 4 port.
The aluminum chassis may take on the more rounded shape of the 14-inch MacBook Pro design, but there are color options. We expect Apple to mimic the colors of the 24-inch iMac, with blue, green, pink, silver, yellow, orange and purple for users to choose from. The interior color will be slightly dull, with white keys set into color-matched aluminum bases. The bezels around the display are expected to be off-white, with a notch for the camera housing.
Well-known leaker Jon Prosser has previously shared renderings based on pictures of disassembled parts given to him. These renders show a case without a tapered outer shell, likely to ensure there’s room for internal components in the thinner design.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that Apple may add a mini LED-backlit display to the new MacBook Air. The 13.3-inch display will be the smallest MacBook with the technology and the most affordable price. Thanks to improved I/O, the M2 is said to make the MacBook Air have two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a MagSafe connector for charging.
While it hasn’t been confirmed, we expect this laptop will be able to drive multiple external displays, unlike the 2020 model. The M2 will have better performance than the M1, but probably not the M1 Pro or M1 Max. It may have more technologies like a media engine and a faster neural engine.