New rumors suggest that Apple will not only show off a new MacBook Air at its WWDC 2022 event starting June 6, but also a new Mac mini, with both devices using the M2 chip.
In some ways, that's not too surprising, because when the MacBook Air (M1, 2020) was released, which saw the debut of Apple's M1 chip, Apple also released a new Mac mini (M1, 2020) that also came with the M1. chip.
So if Apple really does plan to release a new MacBook Air, it makes sense that it would also show off a Mac mini to help show off the new M2 chip.
The M1 chip was Apple's first attempt at creating a chip for its computer products, following the end of a long-standing partnership with Intel. It ended up being a huge success, and Apple's experience making chips for its iPhones and iPads translated well into computers. M1-powered Macs and MacBooks delivered excellent performance and battery life, and sales were among the best the company had seen. We were so impressed with the MacBook Air (M1, 2020) that it has remained at the top of our best laptops list since its release.
So it's no surprise that Apple is working on a successor to the M1, as well as two popular products to showcase it. However, what is surprising is that the rumors (reported by Notebookcheck) point to them being presented at WWDC 2022.
While we'd heard that Apple was preparing two M1 Macs for WWDC 2022, the LeaksApplePro Twitter account, which often posts accurate Apple leaks, suggests that the Mac mini M2 and MacBook Air M2 will be the two Macs in question.
Audition of M2 MacBook Air and M2 Mac mini at WWDC. April 21, 2022
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Why WWDC?
Apple's WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference) is, as the name suggests, primarily for developers working on software and applications for Apple devices. It is not usually associated with great material revelations.
Apple usually hosts its own events to launch new iPhones, for example, and the latest MacBook Air and the latest M1 chip were launched at a special event on November 10, 2020. So, in a way, Apple's decision to introduce it as WWDC is baffling, especially to people who think a dedicated event later in the year would give any new Mac or MacBook a better chance to shine.
However, this is also not beyond the possibilities. Apple has announced new hardware at WWDC in the past, including the HomePod and iMac Pro in 2017 and the new Mac Pro in 2019.
There's also the fact that a new and improved M2 chip will have big implications for developers, so it makes sense to announce the M2 at WWDC 2022 and show off its improved performance and new features, and explain how developers can use them.
If Apple is going to reveal the M2 at WWDC 2022, it also makes sense to show off some devices that will use it. After all, Apple isn't the kind of company that gets someone onstage and moves a chip (unlike AMD or Intel).
Analysis: The Mac mini could steal the show
If the new MacBook Air and Mac mini show up at WWDC 2022, I think the Mac mini could be the star of the show. Most of the devices shown at WWDC are aimed at professionals, and while the new MacBook Air is undoubtedly a fantastic laptop, it's a much more mainstream device.
However, a Mac mini bloated with the latest Apple technology could be of great interest to WWDC attendees. Without the limitations of being battery-powered and portable, the new Mac mini could really show off what the M2 chip can do.
Of course, there is something else to consider. The MacBook Air and Mac mini M1 launched alongside a third device: the 13-inch MacBook Pro (M1, 2020). Although we haven't heard any rumours, could Apple also launch a MacBook Pro M2 at WWDC? If so, then this could be the device that generates the most buzz by far.
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