APPLE SILICON

Why I Want a More Portable MacBook

Lobbying Apple for thinner, lighter, smaller-footprint laptops is not a waste of time.

Image courtesy of the author

My last story, The M4 MacBook Air Fails to Deliver on The Promise of Apple Silicon, generated several responses disagreeing with my argument that Apple should launch a laptop more portable than the 13-inch MacBook Air. Here’s the gist of those responses rewritten with Apple Intelligence:

So, everyone else’s ultraportable is pretty much the same as the MacBook Air. But guess what? The M4 Air is the clear winner in terms of performance. I mean, who would want a smaller screen than it already has? It’s got everything you need. Apple is the top dog in this game, and they’ve been setting the standard for years. If you really need more portability, you can always get an attachable keyboard for an iPad Pro. Or, if you’re set on a Windows ultraportable, go for it. But if you’re just complaining about the extra inch, it’s like complaining from the cheap seats. I feel like I’m wasting my time writing this.

I’ll start my response by agreeing that Apple has been setting the standard in laptops for years. I never meant to imply that Apple’s laptops aren’t great, they are. I have an M1 MacBook Air and it is amazing. While Apple continues to make the world’s…