Macbook Air 2016 release date, specs rumors: gaming-friendly device getting Windows support?

Now that Apple has unveiled the new iPhone 6s and 6s Plus as well as the new iPad Pro, the attention shifts to the MacBook Air 2016. The Cupertino-based company did not mention anything about the purported laptop but speculations claim that it will break its silence about the device before the year ends. 

Rumor mills' round-the-clock churning suggests that the highly-anticipated new MacBook Air will pack massive power in a sleek, ultra-thin build. It will be powerful in the sense that users can use it for heavy-duty gaming. Rumor has it that it will be fitted out with the highly-advanced Nvidia GeForce GTX 950 graphics card. 

This unit will help the MacBook Air 2016 handle some intense gaming, which will easily make it a go-to for hardcore gamers. With a Skylake-U processor (the latest and more powerful chip from Intel) allegedly under its hood, the machine's performance should be nothing but stellar while the power consumption is kept relatively low.

Apple is also expected to integrate Force Touch technology on the device. The latest available MacBook already has the feature, which responds differently to a light tap and a hard press. It will reportedly feature USB Type-C ports but more outrageous reports claim that the laptop could be charged wirelessly.

The MacBook Air 2016 will apparently have support for select Microsoft apps or functions. These include an Office software especially tailored for the Apple-made notebook. Australia News Network says that there will also be a feature called Intelligent Search, which will apparently comb through the data on the Microsoft-native OneNote and Outlook that's on the MacBook Air. 

A so-called Translator, which the site says was initially introduced to the iPhone and Apple Watch, will also be integrated. This app apparently helps the user find phrases in a foreign language by accessing the current location and time of the user.

Apple has yet to make the MacBook Air 2016 official but media outlets believe that the company lowering the price of the MacBook Air 2015 is a sign that users are close to seeing the new laptop.  

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