The M2 MacBook Pro has started making its way into customers’ hands and we’re learning more about how it performs in different situations, but all eyes are really on the upcoming M2 MacBook Air, which has undergone a complete redesign and should arrive in a few weeks.
Other top news this week included a slew of product rumors, including additional M2 and even M3 Macs, an updated Apple TV, and a revived HomePod, so be sure to read below for all the details on those stories and more!
Apple plans to launch MacBook Air with M2 chip on July 15
MacRumors has learned from a source that Apple plans to launch the new MacBook Air with the M2 chip on Friday, July 15, meaning pre-orders will likely begin on Friday, July 8.
Apple previously announced that the new MacBook Air would be available in July, but did not specify a specific date.
The new MacBook Air has been redesigned with a larger 13.6-inch display, a notch, a flatter appearance, and new Starlight and Midnight color options. The notebook features MagSafe 3 charging, an improved 1080p camera, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, a Magic Keyboard with physical Fn keys, a Touch ID button, and more.
Prices start at $1,199 in the United States, while the previous MacBook Air remains available for $999.
The base 13-inch MacBook Pro with the M2 chip has significantly lower SSD speeds than the previous model
The base model M2 MacBook Pro with 256GB of storage has significantly slower SSD read/write speeds than the equivalent M1 model.
YouTube channels such as Max Tech and Created Tech tested the 256GB model with Blackmagic’s Disk Speed Test app and real-world tests and found SSD read and write speeds to be about 50% and 30% slower, respectively, compared with the previous model.
M2 Pro Mac Mini, new Apple TV with A14 chip and more rumored to be in development
In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman outlined additional M2 Macs on Apple’s product roadmap, including a new Mac mini powered by an M2 Pro chip.
Gurman listed several other new Apple products in development, including a new Apple TV with an A14 chip and an increased 4GB of RAM. Most of the products are expected to be launched between late 2022 and mid-2023.
A new version of the original HomePod will return next year
One of the new Apple products Gurman mentioned is in the works is a new HomePod with the same S8 chip that will be found in the Apple Watch Series 8.
Gurman said the new HomePod will be closer to the original model in terms of size and audio performance, rather than being a new HomePod mini. He also said the new HomePod will feature an updated display on the top of the speaker, potentially with multi-touch functionality.
Video Comparison: M2 MacBook Pro vs. M1 MacBook Pro
In a recent video on our YouTube channel, we compared Apple’s new 13-inch MacBook Pro with the M2 chip to the previous model with the M1 chip.
The video provides a look at the M2 MacBook Pro’s overall performance, SSD speed, and more compared to the previous model. Both machines have a 256GB SSD and 8GB of RAM in our comparison.
Kuo: Apple’s work on 5G modem chip ‘failed’, Qualcomm to remain iPhone supplier in 2023
For years, rumors suggested Apple was working on its own 5G modem for future devices, but analyst Ming-Chi Kuo this week said Apple’s efforts have so far “failed” and said Qualcomm will remain Apple’s modem supplier for 2023 iPhones.
If Kuo is correct, this means that the iPhone 15 models could be equipped with Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon X70 modem, as Apple continues to work on its own modem.
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