Apple’s next MacBook Air could be even thinner and lighter

Last week, Bloomberg reported that Apple is planning a redesigned MacBook Air. It was a footnote, however, in a larger article that focused on some upcoming MacBook Pro laptops. Today, BloombergMark Gurman’s provided more details on the upcoming Air refresh. It will be thinner and lighter, the publication reports, will have a next-gen M1 processor, and use the same MagSafe charging system tied to the next MacBook Pro refresh. The company is also said to be considering a design with smaller screen bezels, which would further reduce the already portable form factor.

The report doesn’t say how much smaller, thinner and lighter the laptop could be. Bloomberg note, however, that it will be positioned as a premium alternative to the current MacBook Air, which will remain as an entry-level offering. Changes to the chassis would help Apple differentiate the Air and Pro lineup. The newer MacBook Air, which sports the company’s new M1 chip, is visually similar to the MacBook Pro (well, the versions that ship without the Touch Bar, anyway). It’s a wonderful machine – my colleague Dana Wollman once said that “it’s worth considering for most people” – but one that doesn’t stand out from the current crop of MacBook Pro.