Will Apple's MacBook Air Launch Later This Year?
Apple's quiet unveiling of several products on their online store earlier this week has raised hopes for a potential MacBook Air update later this year. But will this update be a major one this time around, or will it be another minor upgrade like what the device got in 2016?
Many Apple fans were disappointed with the minor update that the MacBook Air got last year, which only officially included what had already been an optional random-access memory (RAM) upgrade for the 13-inch model, while the 11-inch variant was completely ignored. People are eager for a major update to the MacBook Air and are hoping that it will finally be coming soon, despite rumors that the line may eventually be discontinued.
According to Macworld, one possible indication that a MacBook Air could be on its way is that U.S. retailer Best Buy just recently brought the laptop's price down to $800. Price cuts like this are often believed to come ahead of a new product launch since this is supposedly the retailers' attempt of clearing out older models from their stores. But this is just mere speculation and is not set in stone.
If and when Apple does launch a new MacBook Air, it is expected to feature the next-generation Intel processor, Kaby Lake, along with major graphics and RAM upgrades. It could also be equipped with Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.1 and DisplayPort 1.2 support.
Another possible update that has been highly anticipated since 2015 is for the MacBook Air to finally have a Retina display. However, incorporating this feature will undoubtedly increase the price of the otherwise affordable laptop, so this may still be a moot point to this day.
Recent rumors point to a possible March or May unveiling for a possible MacBook Air 2017, which could be launched alongside the also rumored MacBook Pro 2017.