Malcolm Owen
Apple will launch a refreshed entry-level MacBook next month, according to a report, with an updated model claimed will be revealed during the company's September event alongside new iPhones and other product announcements.
The new MacBook will use Intel's Kaby Lake processor, industry sources reportedly advised DigiTimes, The sources also expect the refreshed notebook to start from $1,200 for the base model, but did not advise on any potential specification changes, aside from the processor.
Claimed to be originally scheduled for a refresh in the fourth quarter of 2017, the MacBook update was apparently delayed due to Intel having issues with producing processors under a 10-nanometer process. After Intel confirmed it would wait until 2019 before mass producing the 10-nanometer processors, Apple allegedly reworked the MacBook's design to use the 14-nanometer Kaby Lake architecture, rather than put off the refresh for another year.
The report buoys rumors that Apple will be reviving its inexpensive MacBook lineup, and follows a similar report from earlier this month suggesting Apple partner Quanta would see shipments hit 10 million units in the December quarter, in part because of the new MacBooks. According to today's report, the MacBooks in question are anticipated to have a shipping volume of around 8 million units by the end of the year.
While Apple's September event is largely expected to include three new iPhones, including 5.8-inch and 6.5-inch OLED models and a cheaper 6.1-inch LCD version with Apple Pencil support, the report also suggests other hardware that could make an appearance during the presentation.
Apple will apparently detail the launch schedule of AirPower, Apple's wireless charging mat capable of providing power to multiple devices at the same time, which is touted in the report to cost around NT$5,000 to NT$6,000 ($161 to $193).
There may also be the appearance of new iPad Pro models, with the report suggesting a refreshed 12.9-inch model could be joined by an 11-inch version, the latter of which may replace the existing 10.5-inch variant. The iPad Pros are speculated to ship with a new 18-Watt power adapter using USB Type-C, which will help speed up charging of connected devices.
Current speculation for the iPad Pro refresh points to an edge-to-edge display that switches out Touch ID for Face ID and the notch, like the iPhone X, and rounded corners for the screen.
Wesley Hilliard
AppleInsider Staff
Andrew Orr
Amber Neely
William Gallagher
26 Comments
$1200 for a MacBook is obscene. Having a great operating system only goes so far if a lot of productivity can be done through the browser. A Chromebook is a much better deal for many users, since a MacBook isn’t a power computer anyway.
In my opinion a MacBook should start at $799 and act as an ‘onboarding laptop’ for more powerful devices if the user wants to.
An iPad doesn’t cut it for real productivity, unless it supports a mouse and trackpad. I’ve been using an iPad in conjunction with a Bluetooth case/keyboard and it’s okay for typing but not for creating graphs and other stuff. It can’t be take care seriously as a productivity machine because of usability concerns.
I’d really love to have iPad Pro with no Lock Screen.
Lock Screen didn’t make sense on iPad. We didn’t put iPad in our pocket so what Lock Screen is there for. There should be Lock Mode instead for when we travel. (like long pressing the Top Button for Lock & Unlock Mode)
Without Lock Screen, we just tap the screen to wake & it will wake to Home Screen if FaceID recognize our face, no need for a big swipe up (on iPad it will be big). This will make everything quicker & easier.
On iPad TouchID will be inferior to FaceID. With FaceID we will never touch FaceTime camera to try to activate iPad again.
Low priced Apple products are a bad idea. Apple users are elites, and should not be diluted with low income people.
I'm hoping the starting storage and RAM aren't so gimped that you're right up to the rMBP pricing anyways once you upgrade those.
8GB/256GB would be a decent start point.
1200USD = 1,568CAD, * 1.15 tax = $1803, just to start, ouch. Two of those things aren't in Apples control, but still, for entry level, ouch. In 2015 I had bought the 15" rMBP for 2500 all in.
This could though make sense if it's the 12" Macbook taking over the Air price slot, while the new 13" takes the 12"s current price. It wouldn't make sense for a retina 13 to be cheaper than the retina 12 otherwise.
I wouldn’t call this an Inexpensive” line. It’s a less expensive line than the Macbook Pro.