Refreshed 13” MacBook Pro Coming This Fall, End of MacBook Air Line Looms

We had been anticipating that Apple would update its MacBook line sometime this year; however, what remained to be seen was whether or not the Silicon Valley tech-giant planned to do so prior to or after its World-Wide Developer Conference next June.

Surprisingly enough, it was revealed in a recently submitted research note by well-connected KGI securities analyst, Ming Chi Kuo, that Apple is indeed expected to refresh its 13-inch MacBook Pro sometime within the 3rd quarter of this year.

In the research note, which was originally obtained by AppleInsider, Kuo mentioned that the forthcoming, slim and light, 13-inch MacBook Pro will boast a very similar form factor as Apple’s current 12-inch MacBook model — a move that seems perhaps a bit strange as the two models become more and more similar.

Kuo also indicated that, with the introduction of the new, slim and sleek 13-inch MacBook Pro, he sees the penultimate resolution to Apple’s smaller, 11 and 13-inch MacBook Air line. Specifically, Kuo suggested that the current generation of MacBook Airs would remain stagnant in terms of future upgrades or refreshes — although they would still remain for sales as Apple’s entry-level notebook offering for some time to come. This type of move, Kuo noted, makes it seem as if Apple might be shifting gears and focusing its attention on long-term development — as opposed to continuing to invest in the research and development required of annually refreshing its entire MacBook family.

On a larger scale, Kuo predicted that “big changes” will be coming to Apple’s MacBook Pro line. For instance, the refreshed MacBook Pro coming this fall — which Kuo pegged for a potential 4th quarter release — will feature a slew of hardware advancements over its predecessor, including Apple’s Touch ID fingerprint recognition security, a touch sensitive OLED bar, USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 connectivity, and much more — all packed into a considerably thinner, lighter aluminum shell.

This might come as somewhat disappointing news, particularly for owners of Apple’s current 11 or 13-inch MacBook Air — who were likely anticipating an upgrade to the ultra-portable notebook that included features such as a Retina display and/or ForceTouch. However, with Apple’s new 12-inch MacBook thrown into the mix, the company appears to be reverting back to its original “three-tier” structure of MacBook offerings — which would include the top-tier MacBook Pro, the mid-range, sleek and slender, 12-inch MacBook that was recently refreshed, and as an entry-level offering, the company’s current 11 and 13-inch MacBook Airs.

Well, at least MacBook fans can now rest assured that an upgrade is looming just over the imminent horizon, right?

Are you planning on picking up one of Apple’s new 13-inch MacBook Pros when they launch this fall?
Let us know in the comments!

Featured Photo Copyright: gece33

[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]