Fans with aging Apple laptops prayed that a new MacBook Air (2022) would make an appearance at the Apple " Peek Performance " event March 8. They were left wanting. Again.
But never fear, true believers! Convincing new rumors say Apple is testing nine new Mac models with brand-spanking new M2 silicon chips -- and that includes a new MacBook Air in a range of bright and cheery colors at that. It has big shoes to fill: The older MacBook Air (M1, 2020) still tops both our best laptop and best Apple laptop guides and has since November of 2020, when it was released alongside other M1-powered devices such as the Mac mini (2020) and 13-inch MacBook Pro (M1, 2020) .
The MacBook Air 2022 will most likely keep the silent, fanless design and excellent battery life, which is already the longest in an Apple laptop, even if Apple doesn’t make any adjustments. But we’re expecting some improvements, particularly in the Air’s design, with the 2022 model. Rumors abound of a complete redesign including a plethora of colors to choose from, similar to the classic Mac-inspired ones that you can pick for the 2021 iMac and 4th generation iPad Air .
Here's everything we know to date.
MacBook Air (2022): Cut to the chase
Latest news
April 15: Apple is testing a whole bunch of new Macs that are powered by its next-gen M2 chip -- including a new MacBook Air and multiple MacBook Pro models, according to the laptop grapevine.
April 13: MacBook production could be affected by current lockdowns in China due to Covid, reports suggestion, meaning potential delays to Apple's new laptops , according to respected Apple source, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
April 11: “Apple is gearing up to launch some new Macs in the next few months," writes Mark Gurman. "What better place to do so than WWDC?" And one's likely to be the MacBook Ai r, he says.
April 2: No April Fool's joke here: DigiTimes says sources from the supply chain – insiders in the firms involved in making parts for Apple’s laptops – are ramping production, anticipating hot sales of forthcoming MacBook Air models.
Release date and price
We were hoping that Apple would spill some beans at its Peek Performance event on March 8, but now that this slipped by without even a mention, the predicted release date is a little foggy. With so many rumors flying around, it's still likely we could see it announced by the end of 2022, so keep your eyes peeled for any events towards the end of the year.
The latest 24-inch iMac was only released back in May 2021, and given that featured the same M1 SoC as the first wave of Apple silicon, it's anyone's guess as to if this latest MacBook Air will offer the very same M1 with a complete design update, will sport one of the new chips unveiled with the new MacBook Pros, or have an all-new Apple M2 chip .
Given that the two most recent MacBook Pro models contain souped-up versions of the M1 chip (the M1 Pro and M1 Max), it's unlikely that the 2022 MacBook Air would launch with the same, ultra-powerful Soc during the same release window, so an M2 chip debut is more likely.
There's no official murmurings on price yet, but we anticipate the new MacBook Air will start at $999 / £999, just like the current model.
Design
Regardless of when the new MacBook Air arrives, there's been plenty of leaks and speculation regarding its new design to make it worth the wait. We anticipated back in April that the MacBook Air is overdue for its own colorful redesign following the release of the 24-inch iMac during the Spring Loaded event, when the new models took inspiration from some classic, colorful Mac designs.
This was reinforced when serial Apple leaker John Prosser claimed that the MacBook Air (2021) could launch in the same seven colors as the iMac (2021) . These colors are Blue, Green, Pink, Silver, Yellow, Orange, and Purple.
According to renders provided by Prosser, these new MacBook Air laptops could also feature white keycaps, larger function keys, and a slightly smaller trackpad. The chassis is also noticeably slimmer and 'boxier', doing away with the current sloped edges and instead opting for a very modern, blunt edge. With these rumors all collated, it would seem this anticipated redesign will be the thinnest, lightest MacBook Air to date.
Now that the rumors have been proven true with the return of MagSafe charging on the two newest MacBook Pros, we also anticipate that the 2022 MacBook Air will feature a Mini-LED display, something not only suggested by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo but a couple other sources
That quote is from popular Twitter leaker Dylandkt, who's profile was deleted in Janary of 2022 -- draw your own conclusions as to why. But a thinner design does suggest that the MacBook Air (2022) will include some variant of the Apple M1 SoC; it's unclear if this will be the same M1 chip featured in the current MacBook Air, or a new all-in-one M2 SoC.
The current version of the laptop -- the MacBook Air (2020) -- comes with Apple’s M1 SoC or system on a chip, which combines CPU, GPU and other components into an 8-core processor capable of surprisingly stunning performance. The 2020 model is much more powerful than the Intel-powered version it replaced, working 3.5 times faster when it comes to CPU performance and 5 times faster for its GPU performance. What could a new M2 chip bring?
Outside of the chip itself, it's likely that Apple will keep many of the other specifications the same as the current model. This is the 'budget' laptop option after all, so any boost to power could push the price higher and eat into the market for the MacBook Pro.
This means you'll see a choice between 8GB or 16GB of RAM and 256GB or 512GB of SSD, alongside established features like the Magic Keyboard, and Touch ID. We're also anticipating thinner bezels, a 13-inch display (as is currently the standard), and an improved 1080p webcam. Updated webcam tech was featured on the 2021 iMac, with Apple claiming this to be the “best camera ever in a Mac”, so we'd be surprised if this isn't extended across the entire range of MacBook devices given how dire the current 720p webcam performance is.
For context, the last Intel-based MacBook Air could run two 4K external monitors, so we might see this feature return, especially since the newest iMacs and MacBook Pros all sport 1080p webcams.
While the number of ports on the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro (2021) ended up expanding quite a bit, the same might not happen on the MacBook Air (2021), which will likely remain at two ports.
Cities: Skylines' VR port for the Quest 2 will make you feel like a god
The hit city-simulator game Cities Skylines is coming exclusively to the Quest 2 as Cities: VR and we can’t wait to play it.
At the Meta Quest Gaming Showcase , we were treated to a brand-new gameplay trailer for the title. We saw a player take on the role of mayor to construct buildings and bridges, and create their dream city.
But if you’re already desperate to know more, we have some good news; we caught up with one of the game’s developers (the Cities VR live producer Linda Kiby Zetterman) to find out what players can expect when the title drops on April 28.
More power than ever
Those of you that have played Cities Skylines will be familiar with the mayoral responsibilities you’ll be managing. There are utilities to sort out, transport routes to create, and taxes to collect - all of which have to be balanced to keep your city’s residents happy.
But, Zetterman explained that players are “less of a mayor and more of a god with Cities VR.”
“With the Quest 2 headset on you’ll be stood above it all, looking down at your city below - and you’ll have control over everything.”
This top-down perspective is nothing new for city-simulators, but with the immersive nature of VR, we’re not surprised that the player’s view of the world could lead them to feel like a deity - especially as you can create structures with the push of a button and carve out the landscape with your hands
What’s more, Zetterman explained that this sandbox experience won’t be like some VR games where there’s a single narrative to complete. Cities: VR will instead offer players numerous ways to replay the title so they can experience the power trip it provides over and over.
“While it is smaller on the Quest 2 right now than Cities: Skylines currently is, it still offers a tremendous number of reasons to return. There are different starting locations to try out, and obviously, there’s that drive to see if you can improve and make an even better city than you did before.”
You could also try and create increasingly more terrible cities but to each their own.
There’s more Cities: VR content to come
While CIties: VR will be smaller in scope than Cities: Skylines, Zetterman assured us that multiple free updates coming after launch will steadily expand the scope of the title.
The first update is already set in stone (it includes a few fixes and upgrades to help everything run a bit smoother) but, much like how players have control over their cities, they’ll also shape the kind of content that launches in the future.
If players have particular issues they want to be addressed or are calling for certain content to be added to Cities: VR, Zetterman and her team want to use updates to address their concerns.
And while players are currently confined to the Quest 2, there's a chance that those of you with an HTC or Valve headset could give it a try in the future.
Zetterman didn't make any promises but did say that we could see Cities: VR launch on other platforms at some point - perhaps we'll even see it on the PSVR 2 .
For now, though, Cities: VR will be exclusive to the Meta Quest 2 when it launches later this month on April 28. It’s priced at $30 / £23 / AU$47, but if you get your preorder in, you’ll nab it with a 10% discount.
Sonic Origins locks game modes behind paid DLC – and fans aren't happy
Sega has announced Sonic Origins will release later this year, remastering four classic Sonic games in a single collection but locking much of their content behind additional paid DLC.
Sonic Origins remasters Sonic The Hedgehog, Sonic The Hedgehog 2, Sonic 3 & Knuckles, and Sonic CD for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC, introducing new visuals, modes, and gameplay content. It will release on June 23 – the 31st anniversary of the Blue Blur.
The four games can be played in Classic or Anniversary mode. Classic will recreate the original experience, presenting the games at their original resolutions while giving you a finite number of lives. Anniversary mode, meanwhile, lets you play the games in full screen and gives you an infinite number of lives to breeze through.
You can play through each game as Sonic, Tails, or Knuckles, and new missions will let you collect medallions, which can be spent in a new museum area to unlock additional content and stages to play through. You can watch the games in action below.
However, the Sonic Origins website shows some content will only be available through additional DLC, locking it behind a paywall even for those who pay $39.99 / £32.99 – about AU$54 – for the base game. To unlock everything, you’ll need to buy three expansions: the Premium Fun Pack, Classic Music Pack, and Start Dash Pack.
The Premium Fun Pack adds Hard missions, a letterbox background, character animations in the main menu, camera controls over the main menu islands, and character animations during music islands.
The Classic Music Pack, meanwhile, includes an additional 73 music tracks from the Sonic Spinball, Chaotix, and Sonic 3D Blast that were originally released for the Sega Genesis.
The cost of each DLC hasn’t been announced but the Digital Deluxe Edition of the game, which includes both expansions, costs an extra $44.99 / £36.98 – pricing the additional content around $5.
The Start Dash Pack adds Mirror Mode, a letterbox background, and 100 bonus coins. It’s free for everyone who pre-orders the standard or deluxe version of the game.
Although the extra content might not make a huge dent in your wallet, its pricing structure has rubbed some people the wrong way. Not only will they be released alongside the base game, but the add-ons are only minor additions which, in the time of Sonic’s original release, would have been included as free unlockable extras, rather than paid DLC.
Stranger still, the Digital Deluxe Edition of the game doesn’t include the Start Dash Pack unless you pre-order it, meaning those who buy the deluxe version of the game after it launches won’t have access to all its content.
Pitched as the ultimate remaster of Sega’s classic titles, Sonic Origins stirred a lot of excitement among fans of the series, promising to fully port the acclaimed games to modern hardware for the first time. That excitement has somewhat diminished in the face of this extra monetization.