Apple May Finally Debut A Cheaper MacBook Air This Spring

The ultra-thin, ultra-light MacBook Air has been one of Apple's most ignored products over the last several years, with the company instead focusing on MacBook Pro updates and the newer 12-inch MacBook. The MacBook Air is available and sells reasonably well, however, but not for less than $1,000. Fans of the laptop have been waiting for some time for a substantial update, and while this may not be it, there's word of at least something new coming as early as this spring.

This news comes from none other than Ming-Chi Kuo, the KGI analyst with a solid track record when it comes to Apple's upcoming releases. The analyst writes that Apple is reportedly planning to release a cheaper MacBook Air model during the second quarter of 2018. Unfortunately there's no details on this new machine's specs or updated price.

The MacBook Air was last updated in June 2017 with a modest spec increase, but remaining with an aging processor. When the MacBook first debuted it was expected to eventually replace the MacBook Air line, but the newer 12-inch model has remained relatively expensive, with Apple instead discontinuing the 11-inch Air in 2016. The 13-inch Air has in turn become Apple's entry-level laptop, maintaining a 1,440 x 900 display and USB-A ports.

Should a new MacBook Air debut in the spring, it's highly unlikely to feature a full-fledged redesign, namely because it's supposed be a cheaper model. What many Air enthusiasts have been asking for is simply the existing laptop updated with Apple's Retina display and a modern processor. Now that many of Apple's rivals offer ultra-light portables with 1080p displays, there's a strong chance fans might get their wish.

SOURCE 9to5Mac