It is expected that a new MacBook Air will launch sometime next year in spite of rumors suggesting that Apple has discontinued the entire lineup. Several reports suggest that the device which was dubbed the MacBook Air 2017 will make a debut next year, hopefully in March.
Currently, tech experts and fans are looking forward to the release of the new iPad Pro version. There have been a lot of rumors surrounding the iPad Pro along with its probable successors, and the idea of a new MacBook has been discarded. It is yet to be confirmed that Apple has discontinued the Air series of laptops.
MacBook Air series received the last major update back in 2015, and even though it received an update this year, it’s not that significant. The new MacBook Pro 2016 was released last month, but news about the MacBook Air 2017 has not been revealed.
According to MacWorld UK, the minor upgrade in 2016 could probably signal the release of a major one next year. Considering that, a 2017 release is still possible for the MacBook Air 2017. In the meantime, WCCFTech revealed that MacBook Air 2017 is happening, but the laptop is expected to be the last entry in the series.
An impressive update was not received by the current model, and there isn’t a lot that the company can do to the device because of limitations with dimensions. Considering that, MacBook Air’s legacy of being the thinnest ever laptop could soon be over. However, other reports suggest that it will be lighter and thinner compared to its predecessor.
The specifications will be improved, and new batteries should be included on board. It will also come with a cooling module and improved chassis. The device could feature a USB Type-C connection as well. Take all this information with a pinch of salt since the specs, and rumored features are all based on guesses and speculations. It is recommended that you wait for official updates from Apple.
Meanwhile, Ming-Chi Kuo, the famous KGI Securities Analyst expects that there will be price cuts for both new and old MacBooks in 2017 along with a refresh which adds 32GB of RAM and more. He also believes that the plethora of USB Type-C devices and software which takes advantage of the Touch Bar will become more advanced, thereby exciting more users.
Kuo also expects that refreshed MacBook Pros will be launched in the second half of 2017 and will include support for 32GB RAM. Kuo also mentions that this is dependent on whether the Cannonlake processors are launched by Intel. Many customers have reported that the new MacBook which runs on Skylake processors continues to max out with 16 gigabytes of RAM and also costs more than previous-generation models.
Phil Schiller, the Apple marketing chief told in an email to David, a MacRumors reader that if Apple makes a notebook with more than 16GB of RAM, it will start consuming a lot of power. Schiller said during an interview that price is something they care about but the company focuses more on designs for experience instead of price.
Kuo expects that the 12-inch MacBook and new MacBook Pros will undergo price-cuts, it is unclear whether Apple will introduce support for a maximum of 32GB RAM for the MacBook 12-inch variants, besides the MacBook Pro.