Apple is expected to launch a new set of hardware this year, but which of the company's current devices will get an upgrade is all up in the air. Although, it has been recently reported that the MacBook Air, which is long overdue for a refresh, is going to receive a major update in Q2 2018. Interestingly, in spite of the improved specs and features of the new Mac Air, the Cupertino-based tech giant is rumored to make the laptop model more budget-friendly.
The public has not heard Apple talking about its plans for the MacBook Air in a very long time, thus leading some to believe that the tech firm has dropped the Air series altogether. However, KGI Securities analyst Ming Chi-Kuo stated in his recent research notes that an all-new MacBook Air laptop will be one of the biggest hardware to watch out for from Apple in 2018. Aside from the updated and "more affordable MacBook Air," Apple is also expected to unveil a special 6.1-inch LCD iPhone X successor and a new AirPods version, MacRumors reported.
The ever-reliable tech tipster believes that Apple is planning to bring down the usually expensive price of the MacBook Air before the laptop's launch sometime this Spring. Kuo did not mention how Apple would make the latest Mac Air cheaper in spite of the expected specs upgrades. To note, the MacBook Air has not yet received any significant hardware improvements in the last three years. The most update that the Air series has received is a slight bump in the Broadwell processor for the 13-inch model. Regardless, the chip being used by the current MacBook Air belongs to the 2014–2015 period, making it far left behind by the premium laptops today.
According to Engadget, the starting price of the current MacBook Air is around $999, which can be said to be too high for its outdated design and specs. There are speculations as to how Apple should improve the MacBook Air 2018. Perhaps the most obvious update that should be done is the leap from USB-A to USB-C ports, matching the current MacBook Pro and 12-inch MacBook laptops. Also, users have been demanding to improve the Mac Air's 1,440 x 900 resolution. The latest models have already made the leap to 1080p resolution with enhanced color display, and the same feature could also be present in the 2018 update of the MacBook Air.
