Apple could use Kaby Lake processors in 2018 MacBook Air refresh
Apple could use 8th-generation Kaby Lake processors in mid-range MacBook or MacBook Air models later this year, a Taiwanese report claims, with Apple thought to be using the more established processors from last year instead of newer variants due to implementation issues.

A report from the Economic Daily News advises an incoming 13-inch Apple notebook may have slower shipments than first thought, due to Apple deciding to use the refreshed Kaby Lake processors. It is suggested the decision was made because of potential cooling issues with newer generations of processor, as well as Intel's continued delays in producing newer generations of processor.
It is claimed Apple was keen to use 10-nanometer Cannon Lake chips in the Macbook, but continued deferment leaves Apple with little choice but to use the older 14-nanometer Kaby Lake versions.
It is unclear what computer the article refers to, as it mentions a "13-inch MacBook." The MacBook line has a 12-inch monitor, while the MacBook Air has a 13-inch display. Of the two, it is more likely to be the MacBook Air, if the 13-inch display distinction is accurate.
While not Cannon Lake, the change to Kaby Lake is likely to give the MacBook Air line a boost, as they currently employ fifth-generation Core i5 and Core i7 Processors.
A lower-cost MacBook Air update has been rumored for a while, with initial suggestions having pointed to a second-quarter 2018 update for the product line -- which was clearly missed.
The new model is expected to be priced in line with, or slightly above, the current generation MacBook Air's starting price of $999 for a 128GB-capacity storage model. A more expensive version with double the onboard flash storage could sell for $1,199.
The key feature for the model is a speculated resolution jump for the display, moving from 1,440 by 900 pixels in the current generation to a Retina-level 2,560-by-1,600-pixel LG-produced screen, possibly produced by LG.

A report from the Economic Daily News advises an incoming 13-inch Apple notebook may have slower shipments than first thought, due to Apple deciding to use the refreshed Kaby Lake processors. It is suggested the decision was made because of potential cooling issues with newer generations of processor, as well as Intel's continued delays in producing newer generations of processor.
It is claimed Apple was keen to use 10-nanometer Cannon Lake chips in the Macbook, but continued deferment leaves Apple with little choice but to use the older 14-nanometer Kaby Lake versions.
It is unclear what computer the article refers to, as it mentions a "13-inch MacBook." The MacBook line has a 12-inch monitor, while the MacBook Air has a 13-inch display. Of the two, it is more likely to be the MacBook Air, if the 13-inch display distinction is accurate.
While not Cannon Lake, the change to Kaby Lake is likely to give the MacBook Air line a boost, as they currently employ fifth-generation Core i5 and Core i7 Processors.
A lower-cost MacBook Air update has been rumored for a while, with initial suggestions having pointed to a second-quarter 2018 update for the product line -- which was clearly missed.
The new model is expected to be priced in line with, or slightly above, the current generation MacBook Air's starting price of $999 for a 128GB-capacity storage model. A more expensive version with double the onboard flash storage could sell for $1,199.
The key feature for the model is a speculated resolution jump for the display, moving from 1,440 by 900 pixels in the current generation to a Retina-level 2,560-by-1,600-pixel LG-produced screen, possibly produced by LG.
Comments
I don't think it would *literally* be the non-touch bar MBP as the one step up in price, but I agree that in spirit that's more or less what they should do.
The current MB12 and MBP13FN uses Kaby Lake processors.
I do not recall if there is a “Coffee Lake” 5 W version, but I vaguely think there isn’t any, and any successors at the 5 W TDP has to wait for Cannon Lake or whatever Intel 14nm+++++ version Intel will use as a stopgap to Cannon Lake.
If there is a MBA13 replacement, it will likely use 15W TDP Coffee Lake processors. If Apple is going to offer a fanless 13” laptop of the same ID as the MB12, they can configure those 15W TDP Coffee Lake processors down to about 10W and squeak on by. Or continue on with Kaby Lake 15W processors and configure down. But the Coffee Lake processors have HEVC hardware support. I would think they would want that.
Put another USBC port on the other side of the MacBook, and call it a day.
Thank you, Apple. I appreciate you always doing what I say.
Good doggie!
Just upgrade the form factor with a current chip, a current USB-C/tb port, keep usba and SD card slot, and update the screen. Sell tons of them.
It's still around because they can't get the 12" MacBook below US$1000. That's also one reason the MBA is so popular. If they could shed just a few hundred more off the MB price, I suspect the Air would disappear.
I wonder if they'd be able to manage it using their iPhone sales model - keep the previous year's model in the line-up as a cheaper option. However, PC sales may not work that way, since a lot more importance is given to using newer, faster processors, and the market tends to run on a slower upgrade cycle. Also, it might not be solely the cost of the processor that's keeping costs so high.
Another reason they might not want to kill the Air is that they are still getting flack for the Butterfly keyboard, and the change in ports. They might be waiting for either the fuss over the keyboard to settle down, or for them to finally get a version that pleases everyone before getting rid of the last laptop without it.
Can’t, or won’t?
market positioning is another example of bad Mac decisions the last five years.
https://www.apple.com/newsroom/pdfs/Q2_FY18_Data_Summary.pdf
https://www.apple.com/newsroom/pdfs/Q1_FY18_Data_Summary.pdf
13" New MacBook Air
1 USB-C Port
Maybe a Monitor Port or a Second USB-C port
1 USB -B Port
1 Card Slot
1 Earphone plug
Retina Display
Better Speakers
an A-Series Processor - then it could support some iOS Apps - If it has a keyboard, I would prefer a Mouse to a Touch Screen - or at least I think I would prefer the mouse.
The Original MacBook Air Keyboard Mechanism - I cannot attest to the newest ButterFly Mechanism, but the Original Keyboard worked.
They’ve definitely cracked the “keep old stuff around longer” nut. Now they just need to figure out how to cut the price on the old stuff AND introduce new stuff.