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Four Macs we expect to see at Apple WWDC 2022 (and one Mac we don’t expect)

On Monday, June 6, Apple will review upcoming changes to its iOS and macOS operating systems, along with other key software announcements. The Apple World Developer Conference (WWDC) is a developer event where the Cupertino-based company likes to share details about the latest software updates for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Although this is a software-oriented event, Apple may use the scene to announce new Macs with next-generation M-Series chipsets.

What can Mac and professional users expect this year? Let’s summarize what Apple can release at WWDC 2022 in terms of Mac hardware.

Brand new MacBook Air

The MacBook Air remains the most popular Mac on the market and there is a reason people like this computer so much. The MacBook Air is one of the fastest laptops in its segment, but it’s also lightweight and costs about the same as popular ultra-portable laptops with Windows. According to the latest rumors, Air will receive a serious refresh and the new model may be announced next week at WWDC.

The next generation MacBook Air is expected in different colors, similar to the newer iMac. It will still have a thin and light design, but the classic pointed edge will be replaced by a flat edge design that resembles the iPad Pro and iPad Air. It is also expected to receive white frames around the screen, a 1080p Full HD webcam and revised ports. It is unclear whether Apple will pack the upcoming M2 chip in Air. However, a March tweet from reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that the next MacBook Air will have an M1 chip, not an M2 processor. He also stressed that production of the next generation MacBook Air may begin only by the end of the second or third quarter.

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Bloomberg’s Mark German, meanwhile, believes the new MacBook Air will come with the M2 chipset, as these laptops are already being tested, although Covid-19 supply chain outages have complicated things a bit. In his latest bulletin, Gourmet believes that if any Mac hardware appears on the WWDC, it will likely be a MacBook Air, although he previously said it would not appear until September 2022.

New Mac Pro with Apple Silicon

At the company’s event in March, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering, John Ternus, shared a teaser for a new Apple silicone Mac Pro on stage. Not much is known about the professional-grade Mac Pro, which will replace the 2019 Mac Pro, the one with the Intel chip inside and a modular, high-performance Mac tower.

One possibility is that the updated Mac Pro may include the same M1 Ultra chip that Mac Studio has. The Mac Pro may have a smaller body and a lower price. Another speculation is that Apple will release an improved version of the M1 Ultra chip and launch it with a different name and use case.

The existing Mac Pro, which is still available for purchase from the Apple Store, starts at $ 5,999 and reaches $ 50,000 for the high-end model. Remember, you have to spend another $ 4999 to get the 6K, 32-inch Pro Display XDR.

Mac Mini with M2

Two years ago, Apple updated the Mac mini with the M1 chip along with the MacBook Air. Apple will now present an updated version of the Mac mini at WWDC next week. According to leaks and reports, the computer will probably have a glossy surface, similar to “pixel glass”, similar to the original Mac mini from 2005. Mark Gurman from Bloomberg talked in the past about how he expects Apple to upgrade Mac mini to two options: one with chipset M2 and one with M1 Pro chipset.

The new Mac Mini is also expected to have four Thunderbolt ports, two USB-A ports, HDMI, Ethernet and a magnetic power connector. Although interest in desktops has slowed, Apple continues to sell the Mac mini. Honestly, it makes sense for Apple to continue to support the most affordable Mac desktop.

13-inch MacBook Pro

Last updated in late 2020, the 13-inch MacBook Pro takes a strange place in Apple’s Mac range. The 13-inch MacBook Pro is neither as fast as the 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro, nor as affordable and light as the original MacBook Air. So why would Apple want to keep the 13-inch MacBook Pro? Well, the answer is less complicated than it seems. No matter what commercial experts and acquaintances say, the 13-inch MacBook Pro will continue to attract some users who do not want to pay a high price for a 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro, but still need a cure. professional grade laptop weight.

It may be easier for Apple to launch the new 13-inch MacBook Air for those who want a Touch Bar and better battery life. The new 13-inch MacBook Pro can get the same M2 processor as the next MacBook Air, as well as similar storage and memory options.

There is no new 27-inch iMac

The 27-inch iMac, an all-in-one desktop for professionals, is set to be upgraded. And while Gurman is talking about a bigger iMac Pro with M1 Pro and M1 Max chip options on the cards, it’s unlikely to appear anytime soon. With the silicon M1 family, Apple has finally streamlined its Mac range with a solid strategy. The recent introduction of Mac Studio and the expected upgrade to Mac Pro will mean that Apple will not need a specific “professional” range of desktops in the future, just to show more power.