There were rumors that the MacBook Air with Retina display will be powered by an ARM processor designed by Apple itself, ditching the new Intel Broadwell chips. It seems, however, that Intel will continue providing their chips to the Cupertino tech firm.
Intel's CFO Stacy Smith told Business Insider that Intel is so far ahead of the competition for Apple to drop the partnership. He added that Apple could risk losing the stellar performance of the Macs if it breaks off with Intel.
"Apple is a great partner of ours. Like Intel they like bringing really cool stuff to the market ... As long as we're bringing great technology to the marketplace, we're enabling them to do great Apple products," Smith said.
It has been 10 years since Apple switched to using Intel chipsets on its Mac devices from ARM since Apple and its then partner, IBM, were unable to meet the ambitions of the Cupertino-based company for its computers. Thus, Intel became one of the biggest players in the industry for processors.
However, with Apple constantly striving for independence, there were speculations that it would go back to ARM processors to power the new laptop. These chips, which power the current iPhones and iPads, are manufactured by its partners like Samsung.
As for other rumors, the new MacBook Air is said to feature a 12-inch screen display that is in between the 11-inch and 13-inch variants of the current MacBook Air. And apart from Intel's Broadwell chip, it would also feature a USB 3.0 Type-C yielding to a fanless design and thinner profile.
Taiwanese media source DigiTimes claimed that Apple's laptop will be manufactured by its new business partner, Taiwan-based manufacturer Quanta Computer, which held a mass hiring to prepare for the surge of orders as it ramps up its production to meet the device's alleged launch this quarter.
Some reports earlier stated that the new MacBook Air will be launched at a press event on Feb. 24, while others are saying that the laptop will debut at the Worldwide Developers' Conference in June.
