Katie Marsal
Apple may be planning to debut a relatively minor update for its existing MacBook Air lineup in a matter of days, though won't be the anticipated 12-inch redesign with a high-resolution Retina display, according to a new rumor.
The alleged MacBook Air refresh will feature improved Intel processors for a speed bump, according to Letemsvetemapplem.eu Specifically, Apple could choose the 2.2GHz Core i5-5250U, a 1.8GHz Core i5 chip, or a 2GHz Core i7 variety.
Those are ultra-low voltage Intel processors based on the company's new Broadwell architecture. The new CPUs became available to computer makers in January.
According to the report, the "quiet" update will be released by Apple on Tuesday, Feb. 24. Not expected to arrive that day are a new 12-inch MacBook Air with Retina display, nor are improved chips for the company's higher-end MacBook Pro lineup.
It's still expected, however, that Apple will debut a new 12-inch MacBook Air this quarter, which concludes at the end of March. The company is also set to launch the highly anticipated Apple Watch in April, giving it a busy start to 2015.
Last week, a new rumor suggested that Apple may be planning to hold a media event later this month to showcase upcoming products. While that would fit in with a rumored Feb. 24 MacBook Air refresh, there have been no other rumors of a late-February event, and a minor speed boost to the current MacBook Air lineup would not likely justify a keynote.
The MacBook Air lineup was last updated in April 2014, with 100MHz speed boosts and a price reduction of $100. At the time, Apple's hands were tied because of a lack of new chip options from Intel, and the company opted to cut prices, resulting in the most affordable — and ultimately also the best selling — lineup of Macs in the company's history.
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59 Comments
This'll probably be the final refresh, unless they plan on continuing the line past the rMBA's announcement. I'd expect these to be like the Ivy Bridge MBP that's still for sale in the store nearly three years after announcement.
[quote name="TheWhiteFalcon" url="/t/184731/rumor-apple-to-launch-macbook-air-refresh-with-intel-broadwell-chips-feb-24#post_2673042"]This'll probably be the final refresh, unless they plan on continuing the line past the rMBA's announcement. I'd expect these to be like the Ivy Bridge MBP that's still for sale in the store nearly three years after announcement. [/quote] So I wonder then if this means don't expect any new Macs until WWDC? Apple didn't show off any hardware at WWDC last year so maybe this year they will?
[quote name="AppleInsider" url="/t/184731/rumor-apple-to-launch-macbook-air-refresh-with-intel-broadwell-chips-feb-24#post_2673039"]It's still expected, however, that Apple will debut a new 12-inch MacBook Air this quarter, which concludes at the end of March. The company is also set to launch the highly anticipated Apple Watch in April, giving it a busy start to 2015.[/quote] A minor refresh looks like they're waiting on Skylake for the Retina, possibly fanless redesign. Broadwell can't support external Retina displays. Having non-Retina Broadwell models would mark a line between both 2015 models as it would be Retina MBA in late 2015. They did this with the Pro models though - brought the new Retina ones in at a much higher price while keeping the old ones around. I expect a $100-200 premium over the existing models for the Retina ones.
Looks like highly connected insider Ming Kuo was wrong again.
AI and MR have become blinded by their love of Ming Kuo. He simply must be paying them something to publish his stuff. No one running these sites seems quite enough critical of him for my liking.
Apple wasn't the first company to release a machine with Broadwell chips so I now have to say I'm waiting for Apple to release Macs with Skylake.