Apple has yet to confirm its next batch of hardware arriving this 2018, although the rumors are rife that the company is about to update its current MacBook collection. Among the Mac laptops that will receive a specs refresh is the MacBook Air, known as the thinnest and most budget-friendly MacBook. Per the latest rumors, the MacBook Air 2018 is set to make an appearance in the second quarter of the year, boasting improved features such as Retina display.
As reported by MacWorld UK, the MacBook Air 2018 will introduce big changes to the Air lineup. For one, the laptop is expected to receive a more powerful processor, which many users think is overdue as the Mac Air has not received any significant specs bump in years. The present Air model is packed with the 5th generation Intel processor, also known as Broadwell. This year, the MacBook Air 2018 could make the leap to 8th generation Coffee Lake chip.
Interestingly, the MacBook Air 2018 is also rumored to get a feature that is currently exclusive to the high-end MacBook Pro series. The updated laptop is expected to use Retina display, which will give a 13-inch Mac Air a maximum screen resolution of 2,560x1,600. To compare with the current MacBook Air of the same size, the laptop only has 1,440x900 resolution.
It was also tipped that the MacBook Air 2018 will get a much cheaper price compared to its predecessor. In spite of getting a few design upgrades and additional features, the new Mac Air will retain its entry-level price.
With regards to the release date of the upcoming MacBook Air model, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo first predicted that the new Mac Air will appear in the second quarter of this year, or sometime in spring. However, the unveiling of the new MacBook Air could happen at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 4, which will also present all other upcoming gizmos from the Cupertino-based tech firm. The WWDC event also coincides with Kuo's Q2 2018 estimate.
