The current generation MacBook Air notebook computer was released only a few months ago, but as early as now speculations about the new 2016 model are starting to surface. These rumors stem from reports that Apple implemented price cuts to some older generation MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models.
U.S. retail giant Best Buy are reportedly offering $100 gift card for the current MacBook Air. Similarly, the 15-inch variant of the MacBook Pro now comes with a $500 discount from electronics retailer B&H Photo Video, trimming the price down to $1,899.
These cheaper amounts come a few weeks after tech site Mac Rumors reported that Apple increased the prices of MacBook devices in several countries including the U.S., Mexico, Norway, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, Malaysia, and Thailand, among others. Discounted prices are usually seen as an indication that a manufacturer is preparing to release new versions of those reduced-rate models.
On the other hand, some tech observers believe that the Cupertino-based tech giant will not launch the new MacBook Air this year but will intentionally delay it until next year. The main reason supporting this position is that Apple has just introduced the new iPad Pro in September, and it is set to arrive on November 11.
The iPad Pro's huge 12.9-inch display makes it somewhat like a tablet-laptop hybrid. Releasing a new MacBook Air version a few weeks or even months after this new iPad will likely cannibalize the sales of the latter. Furthermore, Apple's recent "One More Thing" media did not mention anything about the rumored MacBook Air 2016. Reports have it that the company is gearing up to launch it along with the next generation of the regular iPad model in the spring of next year.
A major reason that Apple enthusiasts are putting forward as the cause of the delay is the reported unavailability of the notebook's processor. The 2016 MacBook Air is expected to sport the new Skylake processor from Intel, replacing the previous Broadwell chipset. With this state-of-the-art component, the next-generation MacBook Air is expected to deliver a 10% increase in CPU speed as well as 34% improvement in graphics. Moreover, the model will feature a USB Type-C port, and the battery will also receive a boost.
The excitement surrounding 2016 MacBook Air is supported by speculations that it will become the cheapest MacBook ever. The portable computer, along with the new MacBook Pro, will reportedly support Force Touch technology and will come in 13-inch or 15-inch display versions.
