New 13" MacBook to launch in Q3, end development of MacBook Air insider says
Noted KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts Apple to launch a next-generation 13-inch MacBook model in the third quarter of 2016, which would expand the company's thin-and-light lineup directly into 13-inch MacBook Pro territory.
In a note obtained by AppleInsider on Monday, Kuo says the forthcoming form factor will join Apple's existing 12-inch MacBook with Retina display, an interesting strategy considering only one inch on the diagonal separates the two models.
Apple might be playing at the long game, however, as the analyst foresees a coming end to meaningful development of the MacBook Air series. Instead of upgrading to high-resolution Retina displays, speedy I/O technology and Force Touch trackpads, 11- and 13-inch MacBook Air upgrades are predicted to stagnate, turning the former thin-and-light flagship into an entry level offering, Kuo says. Much the same happened to the erstwhile polycarbonate MacBook.
The analyst earlier today predicted big changes for Apple's MacBook Pro lineup. Of note, the new Pro models are thought to integrate Touch ID fingerprint recognition technology, an OLED touch bar, USB-C, Thunderbolt 3 and more, all crammed into a slimmed-down aluminum chassis. Kuo pegs a fourth quarter launch date for the refreshed MacBook Pros.
If the updates do indeed come to pass as Kuo describes, Apple's laptop product line will once again return to a clearly delineated three-tier structure, with MacBook leading in portability, MacBook Pro positioned as the all-out performer and MacBook Air taking over as the budget device.
In a note obtained by AppleInsider on Monday, Kuo says the forthcoming form factor will join Apple's existing 12-inch MacBook with Retina display, an interesting strategy considering only one inch on the diagonal separates the two models.
Apple might be playing at the long game, however, as the analyst foresees a coming end to meaningful development of the MacBook Air series. Instead of upgrading to high-resolution Retina displays, speedy I/O technology and Force Touch trackpads, 11- and 13-inch MacBook Air upgrades are predicted to stagnate, turning the former thin-and-light flagship into an entry level offering, Kuo says. Much the same happened to the erstwhile polycarbonate MacBook.
The analyst earlier today predicted big changes for Apple's MacBook Pro lineup. Of note, the new Pro models are thought to integrate Touch ID fingerprint recognition technology, an OLED touch bar, USB-C, Thunderbolt 3 and more, all crammed into a slimmed-down aluminum chassis. Kuo pegs a fourth quarter launch date for the refreshed MacBook Pros.
If the updates do indeed come to pass as Kuo describes, Apple's laptop product line will once again return to a clearly delineated three-tier structure, with MacBook leading in portability, MacBook Pro positioned as the all-out performer and MacBook Air taking over as the budget device.
Comments
Doesn't matter if it contradicts himself 5 times in a few months, parrots what 20 others already said or issues a big duh : only his last damn entry "counts" for anything.
If he's wrong 100 times, it doesn't matter cause he was right that one time.
He's more a god damn publicist than analyst.
12", 14", 16" (Pro)
MBA- kept as budget entry level device...or phased out.
rMB 12" (current model)
new 13" MBP
Thats what the MacBook is for. In case you haven't realized...the MacBook basically replaces the MacBook Air. Once the MacBook was released, the MacBook Air doesn't need to exist. Yes, its more expensive, but the price will come down in time. Don't forget, the MacBook Air was insanely expensive for what you got when it first came out too and then all of a sudden Apple could make it hundreds of dollars cheaper.
I don't think giving students an old under powered Mac with a horrible screen is in the best interest of Apple. Most schools such as ours just buy 13" MacBook Pro Retina models (or the 13" MacBook Pro w/SuperDrive). There's a large difference between a chromebook and a Mac. We use both and both have their places. There are many things a Mac can do that a ChromeBook cannot. The only place Apple is getting hurt are these 1-to-1 initiatives which from our experience and others in this same region never work.
If Apple really wanted to compete with the ChromeBook they'd release a regular iPad with the smart connector on it and include the keyboard case. The keyboard is the iPad's biggest downfall because the onscreen one sucks for typing and others are bluetooth with constant dead batteries. Other than that an iPad will do far more than any ChromeBook would and isn't any harder to manage with the right management software (JAMF Casper). iPads just get a bad reputation because schools don't plan before they deploy so iPads turn in to "toys" instead of learning tools.