A new report has recently revealed more details about one of the most interesting products of the year, the rumored 12-inch MacBook Air that is expected to offer a super-slim design and lack a huge number of ports that laptop users have come to expect. In fact, many people have been surprised by the first renders of the 12-inch version, which only show two connectivity options for the device including a multi-purpose USB-C port and a headphone hack. What really seems to be freaking people out, though, is the potential lack of a MagSafe adapter.
FROM EARLIER: Beautiful 3D renders show just how stunning Apple’s redesigned 12-inch MacBook Air may look
Apple’s MagSafe charging port is an iconic feature for MacBook computers and it offers users a simple and highly appreciated security feature: When someone trips on a power cord, the laptop will not be pulled with it, as the magnetic charger port simply lets the charger decouple from the computer.
You might not even be aware your MacBook has this particular power until you seriously trip over the cord and pull it forcefully from a desk. That’s when you’ll realize MagSafe technology has just prevented a serious laptop crash that could have had plenty of unwanted consequences.
Even though unofficial renders of the 12-inch MacBook Air show no MagSafe port, that doesn’t mean Apple will necessarily dump the technology, as there are plenty of ways of implementing it. Apple might place magnets in a different location, somewhere on the AC adapter for example, and might even include a MagSafe in the brand new USB-C port.
But the main reason why I’m not too worried about the 12-inch MacBook Air’s MagSafe charger is the fact that this particular laptop might pack really amazing battery life.
Details aren’t available about the computer’s battery life yet, but considering that current MacBook Air models offer impressive battery life already (up to 9 hours for the 11-inch model and up to 12 hours for the 13-inch model), the 12-inch version should also be able to offer great battery life.
After all, Apple is further slimming down its MacBook Air exactly because a critical component has been launched, the Intel Core M processor that’s supposed to be not only powerful enough for laptops and notebooks, but also to be highly efficient. The Intel Core M chip helps Apple ditch internal fans, otherwise required to cool down the laptop, and could further improve battery life.
Thus, 12-inch MacBook Air users might not really need to be plugged in at all times. And a power charger that’s not in use is also a power charger you can’t trip over, regardless of whether it has a magnetic component or not.
That’s not to say a MagSafe charger should be missing from the 12-inch MacBook Air, only that it might not be necessarily missed if it does go away.
