Thinner MacBook Air in 13" and 15" Sizes Coming at WWDC 2016?

[MacRumors]

Apple may be preparing to introduce a revamped MacBook Air at next year's Worldwide Developers Conference, according to Taiwan's Economic Daily News [Google Translate]. If Apple holds true to recent history, WWDC 2016 would be held in June, and the today's report claims the new MacBook Air will launch in the third quarter, which corresponds to the July-September timeframe.

The new MacBook Air is said to take on a slimmer design and arrive in 13-inch and 15-inch sizes, but it is unclear whether an 11-inch model will also be included. The slimmer design will be enabled by "fully redesigned" internal components across the board, and Apple is reportedly currently working with its suppliers to develop these new components.

Apple's notebook lineup expanded earlier this year with the addition of the new MacBook, an ultrathin machine carrying a 12-inch Retina display and utilizing ultra low voltage Intel chips for a fanless design.

Many have assumed the MacBook Air will be discontinued at some point as declining costs allow the MacBook to become Apple's mainstream notebook offering, so a redesigned MacBook Air giving the line a new lease on life could be considered a bit of a surprise.

The addition of a 15-inch MacBook Air could hint at Apple's vision for its future lineup, with the 12-inch MacBook occupying the ultraportable spot, the MacBook Air serving mainstream customers at 13 and 15 inches, and the MacBook Pro offering more power at those same sizes.

Economic Daily News has a hit-or-miss track record with Apple rumors, so caution should be observed with today's claims until or unless other supporting rumors surface in the coming months.

Article Link: Thinner MacBook Air in 13" and 15" Sizes Coming at WWDC 2016?

 

[sniffies]

What a buncha malarky!

Here's what will actually happen:

- Apple will simplify their lineup by killing the "Air" moniker
- Apple will switch to even screen sizes (12, 14, 16, etc.)
- Apple will introduce 14" MacBook in addition to the 12"
- Apple will replace 13" and 15" MacBook Pro with thinner 14" and 16" MacBook Pro, respectively
- 14" and 16" MacBook Pro will be the same size as the current 13" and 15" MacBook Pro, respectively, but with larger screen thanks to much thinner bezel
- Apple will rename iPad Air as simply iPad
- Air is overrated

 

[backinblack875]

a 15" air would be my next mac, but i don't expect my 2012 retina to die anytime soon lol

 

[0000757]

I never thought the MacBook was a replacement for the Air. At least, not anytime soon.

The MacBook is the new Air (ultraportable), and the Air is the new MacBook (consumer device).

 

[nicho]

I never thought the MacBook was a replacement for the Air. At least, not anytime soon.

The MacBook is the new Air (ultraportable), and the Air is the new MacBook (consumer device).

this. the only thing that wouldn't make sense to me about this is the naming being the wrong way around.

 

[sniffies]

Then they'd better have Retina displays or else.

 

[Asarien]

Apple has jumbled up these brands so much, not even they know what to do.

How can the MacBook model be the ultra-portable line, while the Air becomes the standard consumer line? The Air was created exclusively to compete with netbooks and ultra-portables in the first place!

 

[BrodieApple]

I hope this is cheap. Most people buy MacBook Air because it's the cheapest they can get, but it's still a decent Mac. If this is like $700 everyone would buy it but that probably won't happen

 

[0000757]

this. the only thing that wouldn't make sense to me about this is the naming being the wrong way around.

I don't really see it being the wrong way around. If anything, they should rename the MacBook the MacBook mini, and the iMac the Mac Air.

Mac mini, Mac Air, Mac Pro
MacBook mini, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro
iPad mini, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro

Apple has jumbled up these brands so much, not even they know what to do.

How can the MacBook model be the ultra-portable line, while the Air becomes the standard consumer line? The Air was created exclusively to compete with netbooks and ultra-portables in the first place!

True, but this isn't 2008 anymore. Ultrabooks ARE the standard consumer line now. The MacBook is a cool (but confusing) niche.

 

[Menopause]

If they're making *everything* one size bigger: I'd like to request that 17" MacBook Pros be resurrected with a Retina Display with the present MBP form factor (thinness, weight etc.). It'll be a dream for creative professionals.

 

[Mac-lover3]

Well that is a surprise! Hopefully it's a great machine with a better display than the current one..

 

[farewelwilliams]

shaving off the battery

 

[OSXMavericks]

Just give me a better battery, a higher resolution screen and quality hardware.

 

[thairish]

Thinner pros and no new airs.

 

[solipsism]

Many have assumed the MacBook Air will be discontinued at some point as declining costs allow the MacBook to become Apple's mainstream notebook offering, so a redesigned MacBook Air giving the line a new lease on life could be considered a bit of a surprise.

This rumour has half of my "prophecy" in place: 13" and 15" MBAs. The other half of my guess is this being Apple's first entry into the Mac market with bespoke ARM SoC/SiPs. As a result, lower prices for a Retina Mac which will continue to steamroll Mac sales as the WinPC market continues to falter.

 

[ProjectManager101]

If they're making *everything* one size bigger: I'd like to request that 17" MacBook Pros be resurrected with a Retina Display with the present MBP form factor (thinness, weight etc.). It'll be a dream for creative professionals.

I have a 17" MBP from 2008. It si amazing i used to carry that thing, is as heavy as an iMac.

 

[mr.bee]

Hmm, I also believe the air will be discontinued as a product line in the nearby future... But the price difference between a mbr and an air is too big to discontinue it this year...apple will never drop the mbr by 400$ suddenly.

An update is needed, but if that's under the air product line or not...I don't know

 

[Traverse]

Anything' possible. It appears that the Air will be squeezed out, but it's priced as a great entry level laptop.

I'm curious to see where Apple goes with it.

 

[Noble Actual]

Apple will finally make it light enough to where I can fold it into an airplane?

That'll be dope as hell.

 

[tmiw]

As long as they don't use the same keyboard that's in the MacBook.

 

[ghost187]

I highly doubt this. What would be the difference compared to the Retina Macbook?

Though I can definitely see a 14" Retina Macbook which may be called Macbook Air.

12" Macbook, 14" Air, and 16" Pro???

I can definitely see the dedicated GPU dropping from the MBP's because Thunderbolt 3 will support external GPU's, so the processor and screen size are honestly all that is left to differentiate between the Macbook lineup.

 

[JesterJJZ]

I wish the "Air" thing would go away. Just call them MacBooks and MacBookPros…

And make a real MacPro while you're at it...

 

[GhostRaider]

Why would Apple bother with the MacBook Air anymore? There isn't a future for the "Air" lineup anymore since it got cannibalized. I doubt Apple is that dumb. If anything they want customers to jump into the wireless future. Either that or they fork out more money to buy the MacBook Pro.

I don't believe the news source. It would be a weird move if they did this.

 

[L-U-R-C-H]

Because SO MANY people have complained that the MacBook Airs are too thick...

C'mon Apple, that's the only thing you have going nowadays is how thin your devices are?? So much for innovation.

 

[wizard]

What a buncha malarky!

Here's what will happen:

- Apple will simplify their lineup by killing the "Air" moniker
- Apple will switch to even screen sizes (12, 14, etc.)
- Apple will introduce 14" MacBook in addition to 12"
- Apple will re-introduce MacBook Pro with new screen sizes 14" and 16"
- Apple will rename iPad Air as simply iPad
- Air was always overrated

Your malarky is thicker than the articles! The thing is an passively cooled Mac will always be a poor performer compared to what can be had via fan cooling. The Air will remain a midrange machine for sometime.