Apple Files Bluetooth 5.3 Listing Amid Rumors of New MacBook Air and Mac Pro

Wednesday February 22, 2023 7:57 am PST by Joe Rossignol

Apple this week filed a new listing in the Bluetooth Launch Studio database, a move that sometimes foreshadows the launch of new products. The filing does not mention any specific products, but it lists the latest Bluetooth 5.3 standard and references a prior macOS-related listing, suggesting the filing could be related to upcoming Macs.

MacBook Air Multiple Sizes Feature
Apple is rumored to be planning new versions of the MacBook Air and the Mac Pro for release in the first half of 2023. The new MacBook Air is expected to feature a larger 15-inch display and the M2 chip, while the new Mac Pro is expected to have the same design as the 2019 model with a new M2 Ultra chip. Both new Macs could be announced as early as March or April, potentially alongside the release of macOS 13.3. However, there remains a possibility that the new Macs will not be announced until WWDC in June or later.

Bluetooth 5.3 offers benefits such as improved reliability and power efficiency, according to the Bluetooth SIG, the organization behind the standard. Apple has added Bluetooth 5.3 to several recent products, including the iPhone 14 series, the latest Apple Watch models, the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro and Mac mini, and more.

Apple typically goes back and adds new products to existing Bluetooth Launch Studio listings once they have launched. It's still unclear if Apple plans to hold a March or April press event this year or if new products would be announced via press releases.

Apple already updated the 13-inch MacBook Air with the M2 chip in July 2022, while the Mac Pro has not been updated since December 2019 and remains the last Intel-based Mac that Apple sells brand new. The new MacBook Air and Mac Pro could be the last models in the M2 series, as Apple is expected to transition to the M3 chip later in the year.

Related Roundup: MacBook Air

Tag: 15-Inch MacBook Air

Buyer's Guide: MacBook Air (Neutral), Mac Pro (Don't Buy)

Related Forums: MacBook Air, Mac Pro

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Top Rated Comments

Joe Rossignol

48 months ago

m2max studio and m2ultra Mac Pro?

a 15" m2 air with the m3 coming later this year doesn't make sense.

I'm not a leaker, but it does seem likely the 15-inch MacBook Air will have the M2 chip. It's probably been in development since before TSMC began mass production of 3nm chips in December, and that ramp up takes time anyways. It's definitely odd that Apple is evidently waiting like 9 months after the 13-inch MacBook Air with the M2 chip to follow up with a larger model, but it seems to be happening. Ming-Chi Kuo mentioned that this 15-inch MacBook might not have Air branding, so perhaps that is how Apple could get away with updating the MacBook Air with the M3 chip later this year. Or if this does end up being an Air, maybe the MacBook Air lineup is not getting the M3 chip until 2024. Those are my best educated guesses about the situation and I could easily be wrong.

Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)

TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️

48 months ago

I have a feeling we are not too far off to see the new 15" Macbook Air + Mac Pro. Hopefully new Spring Apple Event invites goes out within 2 weeks.

Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)

hovscorpion12

48 months ago

I just can't see them launching the Mac Pro at a spring event, thats definitely a WWDC product. The potential market in the audience is so large that you would get so many credit cards pulled out for pre-orders.

The 15 inch MacBook Air is more likely, but even that would have been preferrably been a fall launch with M3. I would instead focus on at least upgrading the mid range Mac Studio models to M2 Max, make M1 Max be the new entry level and save M2 Ultra for Pro.

“Hi. This is Bank of America calling to confirm that $70,000 credit card transaction at Apple.”

Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)

nicolas_s

48 months ago

I have a feeling we are not too far off to see the new 15" Macbook Air + Mac Pro. Hopefully new Spring Apple Event invites goes out within 2 weeks.

Can't wait for the 15-inch MacBook Air in Midnight!

Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Mr. Dee

48 months ago

WWDC is a software event. There is no reason to announce hardware at this event unless it has major software development significance, and an overdue Mac Pro has no relevance there. They can launch that at any time. And you are not going to see M3 Macs any time soon. Definitely not this year. M3/A17 are the first 3nm chip out of TSMC which means low yields and low supply, barely enough to satisfy the A17 chip orders for iPhone 15 Pro. You'll be lucky to see M3 in the first half of 2024. The 15" MacBook Air is just a new size, and will ship with the M2.