by New rumors suggest that Apple will not only be showing 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 this is not too surprising, like when the MacBook Air (M1, 2020), which saw the debut of Apple’s M1 chip, was released, Apple also released a new Mac mini (M1, 2020) that also came with the M1 chip.
So if Apple is really planning on releasing a new MacBook Air, it makes sense that it would also show 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 computing products, after ending a long-standing partnership with Intel. It turned out to be a big hit, with Apple’s experience making chips for its iPhones and iPads translating well into computers. M1-equipped Macs and MacBooks offered excellent performance and battery life, and sales were some of the best the company has ever seen. We were so impressed with the MacBook Air (M1, 2020) that it has remained at the top of our list of best laptops since it launched.
So it’s no surprise that Apple is working on a successor to the M1, as well as two popular products to showcase it. What It’s surprising, however, is that rumors (reported by Notebookcheck) suggest that they will be shown at WWDC 2022.
While we’ve heard that Apple was prepping two M1 Macs for WWDC 2022, the LeaksApplePro Twitter account, which often posts accurate Apple leaks, suggests that the M2 Mac mini and M2 MacBook Air will be the two Macs in question.
Listening to the M2 MacBook Air and the M2 Mac mini at WWDC.April 21, 2022
Why WWDC?
Apple’s WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference) is, as the name suggests, primarily aimed at developers working on software and applications for Apple devices. It is generally not associated with major hardware reveals.
Apple usually has its own events to launch new iPhones, for example, and the latest MacBook Air and M1 chip launched at a special event on November 10, 2020. So, in a way, Apple’s decision to showcase it as WWDC is baffling, especially for people who think a dedicated event later in the year would give any new Mac or MacBook more of a chance to shine.
However, it is also not beyond the realms of possibility. Apple has in the past announced new hardware at WWDC, such as 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 major repercussions for developers, so announcing the M2 at WWDC 2022 and showcasing its improved performance and new features and explaining how developers can use them makes sense.
If Apple It’s will reveal the M2 at WWDC 2022, so it also makes sense to show some devices that will use it. After all, Apple isn’t the kind of company that has someone on stage and waving a chip (unlike AMD or Intel).
Review: Mac mini can steal the show
If the new MacBook Air and Mac mini are truly showcased at WWDC 2022, I think the Mac mini could be the star of the show. Most of the devices showcased at WWDC are aimed at professionals, and while the new MacBook Air is undoubtedly a fantastic laptop, it’s a much more popular device.
A Mac mini powered by Apple’s latest technology, however, could really interest WWDC attendees. Without the constraints of having to be battery powered and portable, the new Mac mini could really show what the M2 chip can do.
Of course, there is something else to consider. The M1 MacBook Air and Mac mini launched alongside a third device: the 13-inch MacBook Pro (M1, 2020). While we haven’t heard rumors, could Apple also release an M2 MacBook Pro at WWDC? If that happens then this could be the device that generates the most emotion by far.
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