Apple Moves Closer to Refining Its Most Inconsistent Design Choice

The recently released M3 MacBook Air is the final model to feature the classic space gray aluminum finish, as the upcoming M4 MacBook Air will transition to a sky blue hue.

Apple debuted the space gray color option back in 2013 with the iPhone 5s, replacing the previous slate color of the iPhone 5.

Space gray first appeared in the Mac lineup in 2015 with the launch of the 12-inch MacBook, marking a significant shift as it was the first aluminum Mac available in colors other than silver.

The MacBook Pro adopted space gray a year later, followed by the MacBook Air’s redesign in 2018, which also offered a space gray choice.

Additionally, Apple released the iMac Pro exclusively in space gray. The final Intel Mac mini desktops also saw a space gray option for their higher-end models.

However, with the introduction of the M4 MacBook Pro, Apple removed space gray from that line, opting for a new space black finish.

Space gray has also been used to describe various products like the original HomePod, HomePod mini, and AirPods Max; however, newer versions have transitioned to a midnight color scheme.

Last year, Apple replaced the space gray M2 iPad Pro with the newly introduced space black M4 iPad Pro. Earlier, the base model iPad 10 also removed space gray, opting for a palette of silver, blue, yellow, and pink instead.

Currently, Apple offers just two products in space gray: the recently launched M3 iPad Air and the A17 Pro iPad mini released last fall.

Variations such as space black, jet black, midnight, and simple black have taken the place of space gray in the lineup of the Mac, iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods Max, HomePod, and HomePod mini.

One notable fact about Apple’s space gray is that there has never really been a single, consistent shade. Michael Steeber explored the extensive variations of space gray back in 2018.

Throughout its history, space gray has sometimes appeared more silver than gray. Today, space black can easily be confused with space gray depending on the lighting. Regardless, it seems that the peak era of space gray is fading into memory, making way for a darker aesthetic—or sunny skies with the new M4 MacBook Air!