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Leaked Intel Skylake-U roadmap reveals CPUs likely bound for MacBook Air

A set of supposedly leaked specifications for Intel's upcoming Skylake processor lineup made its way to the Web on Tuesday, offering what could be the first peek at what users can expect from Apple's next-generation MacBook Air products.

The roadmaps published by FanlessTech show specifications for Intel's 15-watt Skylake-U series, a low-power product targeting thin-and-light notebooks and ultralights.

As noted by the publication, Intel is apparently streamlining its product offering to one Core i7, one Core i5, one Core i3, one Pentium, and two Celerons, not including two vPro chips. It's not yet clear which SKU Apple will choose for its MacBook Air update, but likely candidates include chips from the Core i5-6200U and Core i7-6500U series.

Both versions feature integrated Intel HD 520 graphics, with the Core i5 chips clocked at 2.3GHz and 2.4GHz, while Core i7 models jump to 2.5GHz and 2.6GHz.

Aside from clock speed bumps, Intel's new 14-nanometer architecture is expected to improve battery life by up to 30 percent while also boosting CPU performance by 10 to 20 percent over the company's current line of Broadwell chips. The enhancement will likely have a pronounced effect on thin-and-light systems like the Air.

While Intel's roadmap lacks specific launch dates, previous rumors suggest Skylake CPUs could start shipping in October.