Apple retires iconic MacBook Air design after over a decade-long run

Apple has officially discontinued the M1 MacBook Air, ending the signature wedge-shaped design, which has defined the product line for over 14 years.

First introduced by Steve Jobs in 2008, the MacBook Air's wedge design became an iconic symbol. The design persisted through multiple generations of the MacBook Air, even as the laptop's internals were updated with more powerful processors and improved displays.

With the introduction of Apple Silicon in 2020, the company began to shift its design language for the MacBook Air. The M1 model, released in November 2020, maintained the wedge shape but introduced a fanless design and a more uniform thickness. The subsequent M2 model, launched in 2022, further departed from the classic design, adopting a look more akin to the MacBook Pro.

But, the M1 MacBook Air lived on, though not for long.

Two years later, as Apple introduced its new M3 MacBook Air models, it retired the M1 MacBook Air, the last MacBook with the iconic design. The move marks a significant shift in the Air's design philosophy, which has long been known for its thin, tapered profile.

The retirement of the M1 MacBook Air marks the end of an era for the wedge design, which has been a staple of the laptop industry for over a decade. After the success of MacBook Air, several ultraportable laptops adopted a similar tapered profile, which made the wedge shape a defining characteristic of the category.

The wedge design's legacy in shaping the ultraportable laptop market is paramount and will continue to be felt. With the advent of newer-age Airs, the legacy of the MacBook Air's wedge design will continue to be cherished by many.