Apple announced two new MacBook Air models this week, with spec upgrades across the board — and a bunch of confusing ideas about how your laptop can be great at AI. We’ll see how all of that shakes out in our review, but there’s little question that the Air will still be one of the best laptops you can buy. But these new models, and the final death of the wedge design, raise some questions. Questions like: what does the “Air” even mean anymore? And: was Apple right to try to kill the MacBook Air altogether a bunch of years ago?
- Home
- Technology
- News
Hello and goodbye to the MacBook Air
What’s new (and missing) in Apple’s new MacBook laptops, Big Tech’s future in the EU, iOS 17.4, the Elon Musk / OpenAI lawsuit, and much more on this episode of The Vergecast.


On this episode of The Vergecast (which is a day early because we’re all about to head to SXSW — come hang with us!), we decide the new Airs don’t warrant too much discussion before proceeding to talk about them for a surprisingly long time. Then, we talk about the upcoming iPad news we’re expecting soon, along with what’s coming from Microsoft’s Surface team in a couple of weeks.
After that, we dig into the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the new-look internet that folks are waking up to all across the EU. The DMA will affect six of the biggest companies in tech — Amazon, Alphabet, ByteDance, Apple, Meta, and Microsoft — but you’re likely to first feel the change the next time you update your iPhone. We also try to figure out why Apple appears to be torching its relationship with developers and why it can’t stop fighting with Epic.
After all of that, it’s time for a lightning round! We talk Apple Podcasts transcriptions, game emulator drama, the deeply weird Lenovo Legion Go, and all the latest Elon Musk / OpenAI drama. It’s a wonky one, folks, but that’s The Vergecast.
If you want to know more about everything we discuss in this episode, here are some links to get you started, beginning with the new MacBooks:
And the DMA rollout in the EU:
And Apple’s fights with Spotify and Epic:
And the lightning round:
PM suspends collection of power bills from consumers in flood-affected areas
- an hour ago
President expresses Pakistan’s full support for China’s vision of civilisation exchange, mutual learning
- 5 hours ago

Field Marshal, PM leave for important visit to Bannu
- 8 hours ago

Gold prices decline in Pakistan today
- 7 hours ago
Judiciary is facing challenges in journey to deliver justice: CJP Afridi
- 6 hours ago
Blasphemy case: Engr Muhammad Ali Mirza remanded in NCCIA custody for seven days
- 7 hours ago
Nepal returns to calm as first woman PM takes charge, visits wounded
- an hour ago
Wasim Akram tells Pakistan, India to forget noise and ‘enjoy’ Asia Cup clash
- 7 hours ago

Another person dies of Naegleria in Karachi
- an hour ago

U.S. loss to South Korea another misstep with World Cup prep time running out
- 5 hours ago
Arab, Muslim leaders to meet in Qatar to denounce Israeli attack
- 2 hours ago

World Athletics Championships begin in Tokyo
- 7 hours ago