The 15” MBA not getting a Pro variant like Mac mini is a bummer. I hope they do that at some point because I agree, a 1-monitor limit makes it a toy.
The base M1/M2 only getting 1 display does make sense from apples perspective though. M1 is fundamentally a tablet chip, just a fast enough one that it crosses the line to ultraportable laptop as well (and it’s quite fast for a tablet chip as a result). Tablets don’t need 2-3 external displays. Nor does the average user of a MacBook air. Remember this is a product that’s essentially coming from a netbook heritage, 1 display is fine in that segment.
What doesn’t make sense is not offering a M2 Pro option especially on the 15” Air which could obviously handle it. Because other people do need it, and the MacBook Pro isn’t the same product, it’s got fans and a different display and chassis etc. There is a segment who is just using the MBA as a fanless ultrabook and the Pro cpu is necessary to support the needs of this segment. I really hope 15” MBA gets an M3 Pro option at some point.
And please for the love of god put the 13” touchbar model out of its misery. It looks like it’s getting refreshed again with the M3 line. The new chassis on the 14” and the 16” is just lightyears better.
The base M1/M2 only getting 1 display does make sense from apples perspective though. M1 is fundamentally a tablet chip, just a fast enough one that it crosses the line to ultraportable laptop as well (and it’s quite fast for a tablet chip as a result). Tablets don’t need 2-3 external displays. Nor does the average user of a MacBook air. Remember this is a product that’s essentially coming from a netbook heritage, 1 display is fine in that segment.
What doesn’t make sense is not offering a M2 Pro option especially on the 15” Air which could obviously handle it. Because other people do need it, and the MacBook Pro isn’t the same product, it’s got fans and a different display and chassis etc. There is a segment who is just using the MBA as a fanless ultrabook and the Pro cpu is necessary to support the needs of this segment. I really hope 15” MBA gets an M3 Pro option at some point.
And please for the love of god put the 13” touchbar model out of its misery. It looks like it’s getting refreshed again with the M3 line. The new chassis on the 14” and the 16” is just lightyears better.