We ’re a few days forth from Apple ’s effect on March 8 , which means there ’s stack of fourth dimension for interpreting Apple’sevent invitation . While the six - color 3 - vitamin D Apple logotype and the tagline seem to hint at a 5 grand iPhone SE or iPad Air , those products are n’t really undecomposed enough to be the star of an event style “ Peek Performance . ” You could look even further and obtain good reason why Apple will use this event to unveil a novel MacBook Pro or peradventure a refreshed Mac mini . But that ’s not really enough either . But the MacBook Air would be . Here ’s why .

A peek at M2 performance

Reportshave enjoin that the MacBook Air will feature the M2 , Apple ’s next - multiplication CPU that arrive after theM1 MacBook Air , which was released in November 2020 . So the timing seems correct for a processor acclivity , which makes the MacBook Air a good paroxysm for the event . But unveiling the M2 MacBook Air accept on more importance than a simple next - gen waiver that we ’re used to seeing with Intel - based Macs .

For Apple ’s Mac silicon , this is the first sentence for a generational release . While we can use the iPhone and iPad atomic number 14 as aguideto helper determine Mac silicon public presentation , they are dissimilar platforms with dissimilar element that influence speed . With the M2 , we ’ll at last get a “ peek ” at the kind of hike we ’ll get as the roadmap rolls on with the M3 , M4 , and so on .

Another reason why the M2 MacBook Air is a fit for Apple ’s March 8 event has to do with maintain selling momentum . TheM1 Pro and Maxwere released about six months ago , which is enough for the hype train to start to peter out . Apple would care to keep the positively charged vibraphone live for a footling while longer as its silicon becomes more firmly established . So release an M2 MacBook Air at this time refuels the Apple silicon hoopla wagon train .

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release a new MacBook Air most six months after the 14- ( pictured ) and 16 - in MacBook Pro keep the Apple atomic number 14 hype move strong .

IDG

And after we ’re done examining the M2 MacBook Pro ’s performance , you bonk what we ’re going to do ? We ’re going to use that data point , massage it with reputation of potential CPU nucleus formations and optimizations , and then assay to provide a “ peep ” at what a future M2 Pro and Max can do . That ’s more buzz for Apple , buzz that the party assess , especially sinceIntel recently revealed its latest processor .

14-inch M1 Pro MacBook Pro 2021

Performance art

With an consequence called Peek Performance , it ’s obvious to see how the MacBook Air ’s C.P.U. gibe into the “ Performance ” part . But that ’s only part of what would make the MacBook Air one of the biggest reveals in twelvemonth .

The MacBook Air has established itself as Apple ’s most popular consumer laptop . With the M1 MacBook Air , Apple essentially ask the exist aim and replaced the Intel CPU with the M1 . But when Apple released the24 - inch iMac(it ’s all - in - one for the consumer market ) it revealed a new iMac design available in several dissimilar colouration edition .

The MacBook Air could be even more dramatic . Much like whenSteve Jobs take out the original MacBook Air out of its interoffice envelope , Apple ’s raw aspect for the MacBook Air would be a major change , one that fits with the company ’s conception template for consumer Macs . Apple ’s eventinvitationfeatures a 3 - D Apple logo with a reinterpretation of the six colors stripes , so perhaps that ’s a mystical “ peep ” at the sheer young colouring for the MacBook Air .

24-inch iMac Pink

Willis Lai / IDG

Peak Apple

Besides a young processor and a newfangled design with raw coloration , what else could the new MacBook Air feature ?

How about 5 G connectivity ? That would conform to with “ functioning . ” contribute it would make this MacBook Air the first Mac laptop with built - in cellular connectivity . While I thought this would be a pro - level feature , Apple could decide it ’s a feature of speech that go in all of its laptop and have it debut along with the M2 . Also , Apple could bring out anew iPhone SE with 5 universal gravitational constant , so there ’s another 5 G mathematical product to tie it to the event .

Another “ execution ” tie - in could take MagSafe , the magnate connector Apple reintroduced with the 14- and 16 - inch MacBook Pro . Apple could also outfit the M2 MacBook Air with a MagSafe connection that allows for firm charging . And the rest : a Mini light-emitting diode display surrounded by a lily-white bezel and a nick for a 1080p FaceTime camera ; two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports ( one on each side of the laptop ) .

We wo n’t get it on until Tuesday whether Apple plans to release its fresh MacBook Air which of these rumor are honest . But if Apple in truth want t make a splash at its Peek Performance event , there ’s no other product that fits the bill .