Apple to launch 15-inch MacBook Air with M2 chips in 2023: Report

Apple is reportedly planning to launch its new 15-inch MacBook Air this year. However, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the previously rumoured 12-inch MacBook with Apple silicon is no longer expected to launch in 2023. Gurman did not provide any additional details regarding the new MacBook Air, but display analyst Ross Young had claimed last month that the tech giant’s suppliers would begin production of 15.5-inch display panels for the upcoming laptop in the first quarter of this year.

The new MacBook Air is expected to have a similar or identical design to the latest 13-inch model. Moreover, it is likely to be available in M2 and M2 Pro chip options. Last month, it was reported that the iPhone maker was developing a 15.5-inch MacBook Air that could launch in the spring of 2023.

Apple, at the moment manufactures its iPhones, including the iPhone 14, series in India. Now, the Indian government is eyeing setting up of manufacturing units for production of other Apple devices including MacBook and iPad in the country.

According to a report by The Econimic Times Telecom, the Indian government is looking forward to broadening the scope of its production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for IT hardware to around Rs 20,000 crore instead of the existing Rs 7,350 crore. The report also says that the Indian government wants Apple to expand its manufacturing ecosystem in the country beyond iPhones to include other devices, especially at a time when Apple and other American electronic companies are planning to expand their manufacturing ecosystem beyond China amid the existing geo-political scenario.

Sources told the publication that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), which the nodal ministry for setting up and electronics manufacturing ecosystem in the country, has already sent a proposal for expanding the scope of the scheme. The proposal is now being reviewed by the finance ministry and other related ministries that have a jurisdiction in this matter.

It is worth noting that back in February 2021, the PLI scheme that was approved by the Union Cabinet included incentives worth one to four percent over a period of four years. Now, the Indian government is planning to boost these incentives to an average of five percent.