Cupertino-based multinational technology company Apple will be ending the reign of its sleek MacBook Air series to make way to a next-generation thinner Retina MacBook, which will be the latest addition to the company's thin-and-light notebook line.
The new 13-inch MacBook will feature an upgraded display with Retina technology, and it will be out starting third quarter of 2016 according to a reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple Insider reported.
Well known for his correct and accurate predictions regarding the California-based company's upcoming devices and strategies, Kuo of KGI Securities said that the new MacBook is set to be the latest boost of Apple after its current 12-inch MacBook, which is also powered with a Retina display.
With only an-inch of difference between the two MacBook models, the analyst said Apple's new strategy for its notebook slate is interesting. Most of all, he predicted that the new MacBook will signal the end of the MacBook Air series.
The analyst also said that Apple will opt to turn MacBook Air into entry level devices instead of boosting the slate with high-resolution Retina displays, speedy I/O technology and Force Touch trackpads. It can be noted that the polycarbonate MacBook also had the same fate.
To preserve the company's three-tier strategy, the 12-inch and the rumored 13-inch MacBook will be Apple's mid-tier notebooks, while the MacBook Pro series will continue its reign as the most high-end among the tech firm's laptops.
In an earlier note, Kuo fearlessly revealed the upcoming major boost in MacBook Pro lineup, which he said will be unveiled during the fourth quarter of 2016. The keywords for the big-time overhaul is "thinner" and "lighter," as the new MacBook Pro design will follow the design of the existing 12-inch MacBook.
The soon-to-be-released high-end Apple notebooks will reportedly feature the Touch ID support, will have a new OLED display touch bar above the keyboard and will be available at 13-inch and 15-inch versions.
Meanwhile, the upcoming MacBook Pro's OLED display touch bar is considered as an exciting update, as it will be replacing the physical function keys of the existing notebook's keyboard. The new MacBook Pro will also feature the latest metal injection molded hinges and USB-C support and Thunderbolt 3.
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