A tipster with “an established track record” has told MacRumors that Apple will announce new MacBook Air models next week. Earlier this week, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said Apple planned to launch updated MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models with scissor keyboards in the second quarter of 2020.
While the second quarter does not begin until April, an announcement next week would be just a few weeks earlier. Apple has announced new or refreshed products in March for the last five consecutive years, so there is precedence…
The current MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro are still equipped with butterfly keyboards that can suffer from issues such as sticky or unresponsive keys after prolonged use, which prompted Apple to initiate a free repair program worldwide in 2018. Apple finally solved this problem by reverting back to a scissor mechanism with the new Magic Keyboard on the 16-inch MacBook Pro, which has proven far more reliable.
Kuo has previously said that several other Apple products are planned for the first half of 2020, including the so-called iPhone 9, refreshed iPad Pro and MacBook Pro models, AirTags, a small wireless charging mat, and high-end over-ear headphones that may have AirPods branding, so it is possible Apple has more announcements in store next week.
MacDailyNews Take: If these new keyboards are even half as good as the keyboards in our 16-inch MacBook Pros, Apple will soon have the best notebook lineup on the planet once again. We very much look forward to being able to recommend every MacBook Pro and MacBook Air model once again! We also look forward to seeing the return of the MacBook as Apple’s first ARM-based Mac (hey, we can dream)!
I also have the new 16″ MacBook Pro. The keyboard feels fantastic. It’s not a retro back to my beloved 15″ MacBook Pro that I still use. The new one is much better, just as the screen in the 16″ has gone to a next level.
As for my MacBook 12″. It’s so cute, but I hate typing on it. The only time I use it is when I am stuck in coach on a plane. I bring both computers with me.
Apple should make a “ghetto blaster” Mac optimised for giving impromptu presentations in large rooms. It would be a “luggable” not a laptop. It’s screen would be in the 20-30 inch range, and it’s built in speakers would be loud enough to host an emergency rave. It would also have a wireless mike with feedback suppression for addressing a large room. Syncing the screen to an iPad or phone would allow the user to stand behind the screen, and still control it and know what is being displayed.
And a full sized keyboard that disataches for use at home.
A laptop with a functional keyboard? Don’t tease me Apple 😛