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Leaked Photos Show Next Macbook Air

Following only days after a rumor of a new 12″ Macbook Air, leaked photos have turned up on the Chinese blog iFanr which appear to show the screen unit for the new ultrabook.

IMG_12491

Note: The photos don’t show the whole laptop, just the screen, and it looks like the photos were taken in someone’s SUV. There’s also no actual measurement to show how large this screen is, so in all honesty there’s no way to tell that this isn’t the existing 11.6″ screen.

Apple currently makes two Macbook Air models, one with a 13.3″ screen and one with an 11.6″ screen. The line was last refreshed last April, so it would make sense that a new model would be making the rounds right about this time (in anticipation of a spring launch).

But even so, I have trouble believing that the screen size is really 12″. I just don’t see the point, not when there is also a model with a 11.6″ screen. (On the other hand, if Apple were going to go for a 12″ and either a 14.4″ or 15″ model, that is different – but it’s also pure wild speculation.)

Update: I’ve been taken to task by a reader for the lack if specific technical of Apple’s products. I will repair this shortcoming, but in the meantime here is what Tim pointed out:

1. The Apple logo is brushed metal rather than a plastic cutout to allow the backlight through.

2. Unlike the Pro, the current Air has a gray plastic bezel around its surface. This switches to edge-to-edge glass.

3. (This is less obvious) but if you’ve seen the 11″ on top of a 13″, this screen appears to be about a half inch less wide horizontally than the 11″ which points to a reduction in the bezel boundary around the screen.

Here’s the screen unit in relation to the 13.3″ Macbook Air Pro:

IMG_1244666[1]Is anyone else interested in the idea of a 15″ Macbook Air?

I would not buy one (I am wedded to Windows) but I would definitely want to go see it. There are Windows ultrabooks with 15″ and larger screens, and I want to see Apple make all those thin light laptops look clunky in comparison.

 

 

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Comments


Scott Lewis January 23, 2015 um 9:31 am

Where this makes sense is only if the rumors of the reduced bezels are true. The idea being that Apple can supply a 12″ screen and the actual MB Air would be smaller than the current 11.6″ model.

One could theorize that the 11″ gets discontinued, and we shortly thereafter see a 14″ air with the same or smaller footprint (width wise) as the current 13″.

Nate Hoffelder January 23, 2015 um 9:42 am

It’s difficult to tell from the photos but I don’t think Apple reduced the bezels.

What’s more, I’m not sure they can reduce the bezels significantly. One key design detail with the Macbook Air is the tapered edge. The bezels around the screen are required so the rear shell can be tapered in order to give the laptop a thinner appearance, so I don’t think they’re going anywhere.

Tim F. January 23, 2015 um 10:17 am

You seem to complain about Apple rumors but then you dive into them when they surface. That wouldn’t be a problem if you appeared well informed about Apple products. But in this case, you don’t even seem aware of their existing products. There are three details, most rather apparent to anyone knowledgable, that show this is not from a current model:

1. The Apple logo is brushed metal rather than a plastic cutout to allow the backlight through.

2. Unlike the Pro, the current Air has a gray plastic bezel around its surface. This switches to edge-to-edge glass.

3. (This is less obvious) but if you’ve seen the 11″ on top of a 13″, this screen appears to be about a half inch less wide horizontally than the 11″ which points to a reduction in the bezel boundary around the screen.

Tim F. January 23, 2015 um 10:22 am

And it should be noted that this is being compared to a 13″ Pro, not Air. That should also be apparent but maybe needs mentioning.

Nate Hoffelder January 23, 2015 um 10:56 am

I complain about rumors, yes, but this is a pretty solid product leak. This I cover.

And as for the last post on an Apple rumor, it felt appropriate to write about it during CES. I was going to see all sorts of vaporware that week, so snarking on a ridiculous leaked image felt right.

Nate Hoffelder January 23, 2015 um 11:02 am

And as for the cosmetic differences, I think those are less important than the debate over the screen size. I did catch the first two, but I didn’t mention them because there’s no way to guarantee that that these detail will be found on the production model and not on this pre-production prototype.

Tim F. January 23, 2015 um 11:43 am

As I suggested, I don’t find your commentary having much weight. Observation 3 suggests we’ll have a new Air significantly smaller than the current 11″ but with an equal or larger screen. This is basic generational advancement, can’t see why it isn’t worthwhile.

Since it’s also alleged to be much thinner, have fewer ports, and likely has processor constraints, it’s not surprising at all that there may only be one size for this third significant redesign of the Air line.

Tim F. January 23, 2015 um 11:46 am

You caught those "cosmetic" differences but still stated there’s no way to tell if this isn’t actually an existing 11.6″ screen? Sometimes it’s best to not try to cover your mistakes, you just look foolish.


Richard Herley January 23, 2015 um 4:03 pm

Nate, MacRumors have a feature on what may be in the pipeline:

http://www.macrumors.com/roundup/retina-macbook-air/

Nate Hoffelder January 23, 2015 um 4:10 pm

Thanks. I don’t normally trust or like rumors, but thanks.


DaveZ January 24, 2015 um 8:20 am

Yeah, as I read this from an 11″ MBA, the bezel is at least different if not smaller and the screen appears more square which could line up with a 12″ design.


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