Apple Likely to Announce M4 MacBook Air With M4 Chip This Week, New iPads Coming Soon

Highlights

• Apple is expected to announce the M4 MacBook Air this week featuring a 10-core CPU, up to 32GB of RAM, faster memory bandwidth and a 12MP Center Stage webcam.
• Apple is preparing to refresh its iPad lineup – the iPad 11 with an A17 Pro chip and the iPad Air with an M3 chip.
• The M3 MacBook Air is likely to be phased out with the M2 model remaining as a more affordable option.

Apple is gearing up for multiple product launches with the M4 MacBook Air expected to be announced as early as this week. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, new iPad Air and entry-level iPad models are also on the way, though their release will happen slightly later.

Here’s what we know.

MacBook Air M4 Announcement On Cards

Gurman has consistently reported that Apple planned to unveil the M4 MacBook Air in March, and now that the iPhone 16e has been launched, attention is shifting to this highly anticipated MacBook update. According to his latest report, there are no delays in Apple’s schedule and an announcement is expected soon.

If the M4 MacBook Air follows the same upgrade path as the M4 MacBook Pro, we can expect:

• A 10-core CPU (up from 8-core in the M3 model)
• Up to 32GB of RAM (vs. 24GB in M3)
• Faster memory bandwidth (120GB/s vs. 100GB/s)
• 12MP Center Stage webcam
• Potentially a nano-texture display option for reduced glare
• Slightly better battery life

With these upgrades, the M3 MacBook Air is likely to be phased out, while the M2 model may stick around as a more affordable option. Amazon is already discounting the M3 MacBook Air below the M2 version, which suggests Apple is clearing out stock ahead of the M4 launch.

New iPads Also on the Way

Apple is also preparing to refresh its iPad lineup, though not as soon as the MacBook Air. Gurman reports that stock for the entry-level iPad and M2 iPad Air is running low, usually a sign that updated models are coming.

Expected upgrades include:

• iPad 11: Likely to feature an A17 Pro chip, bringing Apple Intelligence support to the most affordable iPad.
• iPad Air: Rumoured to get an M3 chip and possibly an updated Magic Keyboard.

While we’ll see all these new products this spring, the MacBook Air M4 will arrive first followed by iPad announcements later.

FAQs

Q1. When is the M4 MacBook Air expected to be announced?

Answer. Apple is expected to announce the M4 MacBook Air this week, with no delays in the schedule.

Q2. What are the expected specifications of the M4 MacBook Air?

Answer. The M4 MacBook Air is expected to have a 10-core CPU, up to 32GB of RAM, faster memory bandwidth, a 12MP Center Stage webcam and potentially a nano-texture display option.

Q3. What new iPads are Apple preparing to release?

Answer. Apple is preparing to release new iPad Air and entry-level iPad models. The iPad 11 is likely to feature an A17 Pro chip, and the iPad Air is rumored to get an M3 chip and possibly an updated Magic Keyboard.

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Also Read: Apple Set to Launch M4 MacBook Air in March, Says Report