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When can we expect the 12" MBA to be released?

S

saintforlife

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Feb 25, 2011
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When does Apple typically launch Mac hardware? The fall seems to be already crowded with the iPhone 6, the updated iPads and quite possibly the iWatch. So is there even room to release the 12" MBA in the middle of all this? I am getting ready to upgrade from my 2010 MBA and am holding off until the new one is released. I am ready for a new design and hopefully the 12" won't disappoint. BTW, how reliable are the rumors that the 12" MBA will actually be a redesign and could have touch screen?
 
saintforlife said:
When does Apple typically launch Mac hardware? The fall seems to be already crowded with the iPhone 6, the updated iPads and quite possibly the iWatch. So is there even room to release the 12" MBA in the middle of all this? I am getting ready to upgrade from my 2010 MBA and am holding off until the new one is released. I am ready for a new design and hopefully the 12" won't disappoint. BTW, how reliable are the rumors that the 12" MBA will actually be a redesign and could have touch screen?
Click to expand...

Don't forget MacBook Pros, iMacs, and the Mac Mini :). Based on the Broadwell release, it should be around September-October. Apple has been experimenting with a 12" retina display for a while. I would be surprised if Apple waited any longer to refresh the 1440x900 display. The rumors are not baseless, but like any rumor, they aren't guaranteed.

Matt
 
Its all guesstimate and we can only use the timeline of the Y series chips of Broadwell. So earliest might be this fall. Then again there are no guarantees since there are other things to consider in releasing a new product. So maybe we'll see it this year or perhaps first or second quarter of 2015. It's always good to be conservative in waiting for Apple products unless you love having dashed hopes. Case in point, people who thought we'd see hardware in WWDC.
 
saintforlife said:
BTW, how reliable are the rumors that the 12" MBA will actually be a redesign and could have touch screen?
Click to expand...

I haven't seen any credible reports that it will have a touchscreen. Have you seen the MacRumors roundup here?

https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/macbook-air/

Rumored 12-Inch MacBook Air

Apple is rumored to be working on a 12-inch MacBook with a new ultra slim design and a high resolution Retina display. The first hint of such a product appeared in October of 2013, with KGI securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo indicating the company would produce a 12-inch MacBook slimmer than even the existing MacBook Airs.

According to Kuo, such a product would boast the portability of the 11-inch model with the productivity of the 13-inch model, with a high resolution display and an improved clamshell structure. His reports were confirmed by NPD DisplaySearch, which indicated Apple was sourcing 12-inch displays for a MacBook Air.

The rumors were further enforced in March of 2014 with a second rumor pointing towards the same ultra thin 12-inch MacBook, which may come without a fan assembly for silent operation and with a revamped trackpad design that doesn’t incorporate a mechanical button.

Digitimes recently suggested Apple plans to release a Retina MacBook Air in 2014, but the site did not specify whether the rumored Retina Air was the 12-inch model or an existing 11 or 13-inch model.

It is unknown how the 12-inch MacBook will fit into the MacBook Air lineup, as Apple already produces 11 and 13-inch versions of the portable notebook. It is possible it will coexist with those products, but it could also replace one or both. Either way, the company is expected to release the new MacBook Air product later in 2014, possibly towards the end of the third quarter.
Click to expand...
 
SavMBP15 said:
I've heard that it is no longer 12", but either 11.50" or 12.50".



Bummer.
Click to expand...


Why do you say that? I thought it was supposed to be 11.88" with the same ppi as the iPad Air (screen cut from the same panel) and marketed as a 12" model.
 
Broadwell chips confirmed for the 12" MBA?

Are the Intel Broadwell chips confirmed for the 12" MBA? If so, what is the timeline for Broadwell release?
 
It is unknown how the 12-inch MacBook will fit into the MacBook Air lineup, as Apple already produces 11 and 13-inch versions of the portable notebook. It is possible it will coexist with those products, but it could also replace one or both. Either way, the company is expected to release the new MacBook Air product later in 2014, possibly towards the end of the third quarter.
Click to expand...

In theory it could replace 11inch model, as the new chassis shouldn't be (noticeably) bigger.
But I certainly doesn't see how it could replace the 13" inch model without unhappy faces on consumers. And getting rid of physical trackpad alone is already a borderline move.
 
saintforlife said:
Are the Intel Broadwell chips confirmed for the 12" MBA? If so, what is the timeline for Broadwell release?
Click to expand...

Broadwell is in no way confirmed for the MBA. The only way there will not be a Broadwell MBA is if either they skip Broadwell entirely, or they release an A-series MBA. Both of those scenarios are less likely than a Broadwell MBA, so we can assume there will be one.

The timeline for Broadwell is Q3/Q4. It was originally Q4, but they managed to push it into Q3. We should most likely see Broadwell MBAs in the fall.

Matt
 
SavMBP15 said:
I've heard that it is no longer 12", but either 11.50" or 12.50".

Bummer.
Click to expand...

Anything between those two sizes can be considered 12".

----------
saintforlife said:
Why do you say that? I thought it was supposed to be 11.88" with the same ppi as the iPad Air (screen cut from the same panel) and marketed as a 12" model.
Click to expand...

I think that the real question is whether it will 16x9 or 16x10, I am hoping for the later. That increase in vertical height should make it a 12".

----------
mad3inch1na said:
Broadwell is in no way confirmed for the MBA. The only way there will not be a Broadwell MBA is if either they skip Broadwell entirely, or they release an A-series MBA. Both of those scenarios are less likely than a Broadwell MBA, so we can assume there will be one.

The timeline for Broadwell is Q3/Q4. It was originally Q4, but they managed to push it into Q3. We should most likely see Broadwell MBAs in the fall.

Matt
Click to expand...

Don't dismiss the 12" retina as being ARM based.
 
I really hope the MBA never has a touchscreen. What's the point of an iPad if Apple gives their entry level laptop a touch interface as well as a keyboard?
 
I'd love a touchscreen version with fold back keyboard, but I don't expect it to happen at all.

However, I am desperately waiting for the retina MBA, so they can release it anytime now!
 
I am wavering on the fence on whether to go ahead and buy an MBA 11" while BB has them on sale. But would really rather have a 12" MBA if one is possible say this fall. The problem though is the cost. Wouldn't you say it is safe to say a MBA 12" retina would probably be significantly more than the current MBA 11"? Any guesses on cost?
 
wolfpackfan said:
I am wavering on the fence on whether to go ahead and buy an MBA 11" while BB has them on sale. But would really rather have a 12" MBA if one is possible say this fall. The problem though is the cost. Wouldn't you say it is safe to say a MBA 12" retina would probably be significantly more than the current MBA 11"? Any guesses on cost?
Click to expand...

I would be surprised if it came in under a thousand but I could be wrong. It seems someone mentioned it may be cheaper than current models (899 and up).

Part of me wanted to wait but I went ahead and picked one up on the Best Buy deal. The way Macs hold their resale value, I can still sell this one and recoup most of my money if I decide the retina is worth switching to.

If I were you, I'd go ahead and pick one up and start enjoying it now. After all, nothing has been announced by Apple so we may not even see a retina MBA until 2015.
 
saintforlife said:
When does Apple typically launch Mac hardware? The fall seems to be already crowded with the iPhone 6, the updated iPads and quite possibly the iWatch. So is there even room to release the 12" MBA in the middle of all this? I am getting ready to upgrade from my 2010 MBA and am holding off until the new one is released. I am ready for a new design and hopefully the 12" won't disappoint. BTW, how reliable are the rumors that the 12" MBA will actually be a redesign and could have touch screen?
Click to expand...

Honestly I could see it pushed all the way into December, considering the Broadwell delays. I'm hoping for October, though.
 
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