MacBook Air and MacBook Pro 2016 Release Date, Specs, and Rumors: New, Thinner MacBook Air Slated for WWDC 2016 Release

Dec 05, 2015 02:16 PM EST

There are online reports that say Apple is preparing to release an improved and thinner MacBook Air at Worldwide Developers Conference 2016. The gadget, together with MacBook Pro, might hit the stores in the third quarter of 2016.

Taiwan's Economic Daily News published that Apple is preparing to release an improved MacBook Air, which is lighter and slimmer than its predecessors. MacBook fans will also have two screen choices for the gadget: 13 inches and 15 inches. The thinner model will be made by modifying several internal components of the laptop.

In our previous report, we said that Apple is allegedly working with suppliers to develop the new components that will fit into the smaller body of new laptop. The new internal parts will likely feature Intel Skylake processors, as well as graphics and RAM upgrades. In addition to that, expect the gadget will be powered with new batteries, cooling modules, and chassis.

The 2016 MacBook Air might also have a USB Type-C support and Retina Display. Moreover, the laptop will have the latest OS X El Capitan and sport the new Force Touch technology from Apple.

The suggestion that the MacBook Air will feature a Retina display has been long running on online publications. But those reports were published before the release of the 12in Retina MacBook and the iPad Pro - suggesting that the Retina could appear in the latest MacBook Air, instead of the two previous devices.

Aside from state-of-the-art internal features, MacBook Air 2016 will boast powerful security system. The laptop is set to have Touch ID within its Trackpad, together with Force Touch upgrade. Mac users could also make Apple Pay payments online through the laptop's biometric scan feature.

On the other hand, Latinos Post reported that Apple Company might discontinue the production of MacBook Air in the future. Rumors say that the tech giant might focus on the development of new Mac Book Pro instead of Mac Book air.

"This wasn't the MacBook Air, but instead leaped past the Air. They kept 'the MacBook Air' around just as they do with older iPhones, but the MacBook is now in the same position as the newest iPhone. That makes me wonder if the Air will go away over time," according to Jan Dawson, an analyst from Jackdaw Research.

Adding to that speculation, Apple previously said they will release the MacBook Air 2016 on November, during Black Friday particularly. However, the Apple device did not appear during the biggest shopping day.

Times of India wrote that Apple may have moved the launching of new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air 2016 next year to avoid cannibalizing the sales of recently launched iPad Pro tablet. Market analysts also said the delayed launching could also bring benefits for the company, since Black Friday rush might overshadow the new laptops.