In this 2014 12-inch MacBook Air with Retina display release date rumours article we aim to bring you everything we know about Apple's Retina MacBook Air release date so you'll know exactly when the new Retina MacBook Air will launch. We'll also be examining the rumours circulating the web - and we'll assess whether they are credible. Finally, we will show you any Retina MacBook Air images that surface online. So check back here regularly for the latest new MacBook Air with Retina display speculation.
UPDATED: Reports hint of super-thinn design for new MacBook Air: edge to edge keyboard, USB Type C connector, new way of charging
Read our MacBook Air reviews \ Which Mac laptop? MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro comparative review \ Best Mac 2014
New Retina MacBook Air release date
We've been awaiting the launch of a new MacBook Air for some time - while earlier this summer Apple made a few tweeks to the MacBook Air line up, this was mainly to reduce prices, the processor bump was very slight. Read our reviews of the current MacBook Air range here: 11in 2014 MacBook Air review and MacBook Air 2014, 13in, review.
What people are really waiting for is a new MacBook Air with Intel's (delayed) Broadwell processor, and a Retina display.
The new MacBook Air line up is said to include a completely new 12-inch model which may replace the 11-inch version, giving customers the option of a slighly bigger screen, or it may replace the 13-inch model, where customers could instead opt for the comparitively priced 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display.
So when will this new MacBook Air arrive? Reports in mid June suggested that Apple would begin production of this 12-inch MacBook Air in the third quarter. According to a DigiTimes report, Quanta Computer was set to begin production of the new 12-inch MacBook Air in July. This may have started, if the new Intel chips arrived in time...
They may have: Intel has issued a press release regarding the arrival of its new Core M chip that some believe could be used in the new MacBook Air. An number of manufacturers are already said to be using this new chip in their laptops and tablets, and that some of these models will be available in October. According to Intel, Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo and Toshiba are using the Core M.
If this new Intel chip is utilised, reports suggest that the new Retina MacBook Air will be available in time for Christmas.
In an August report on Digitimes, the Taiwan-based site claimed that its sources in the Taiwanese supply chain said that the production of components for the new MacBook had begun and that it may launch before the end of this year, or next year.
However, there are also reports that suggest the new Retina MacBook Air could be delayed until next year - it may not be using these Core M chips, relying instead on a different series of Intel Core i5 Broadwell processors (more on that below).
One report even suggests a mid-2015 launch date, claiming that the date has already been pushed back on multiple occasions.
There are claims that Apple will hold a press event on the 21 October, however it isn't though that this new MacBook Air will launch at that event, a 2015 launch looks more likely.
New MacBook Air redesign : new colours, thinner design
Jack Marsh, a 16-year-old blogger who appears to have a source with information the new MacBook Air, seems to have become the the go-to blogger for all MacBook Air rumours. There have certainly been other young bloggers who have gained insight into unannounced Apple products, but as yet we can't be sure the claims are legitimate.
Marsh has a rumour about the MacBook Air to add to an earlier rumour that suggested the new model would come in gold, silver and space gray finishes (more on that below). Now he claims his source has told him that the new design is so thin Apple has had to switch to a new reversible USB Type C connector which is significantly smaller than USB 3 (it's 8.4x2.6mm).
Apparently the MagSafe port is also getting a redesign for the same reason - the laptop chassis is too thin to accomodate the current MagSafe charger. Indeed the MacBook Air may charge in an entirely new way, although Marsh’s source wasn’t clear on whether this had been finalised yet.
The MacBook Air is also said to feature thin bezels with a keyboard that stretches to the edge of the laptop. Marsh also claims his source told him: “The display bezels are noticeably thinner, quite similar to the current MacBook Pro Retina lineup”.
Marsh's earier report claimed that the new MacBook Air will come in iPhone-like space grey and gold finish, as well as the usual aluminium.
MacRumors lent some credibility to this inisial report, claiming that they are aware that “Apple has at least considered launching the 12in notebook with several different ‘special edition’ colour options”. And it wouldn’t be the first time Apple has introduced a range of colour choice on their range of Mac laptops.
New MacBook Air rumours : 12in model
Many of the new MacBook Air rumours point to this model featuring a 12in screen.
Some sources point to evidence that Apple is working with 12in screens, but there have been claims that Quanta Computer will be building a rumoured 12-inch iPadlater this year and it could be the iPad Pro that is being referred to here.
According to a DigiTimes report in June, sources claim Apple wishes to introduce a smaller MacBook Air to make clearer the distinction between the 11-inch MacBook Air and the iPad Air with its 9.7-inch screen.
Canalys analyst Daniel Matte also believes Apple is working on a new version of the MacBook Air - one with a 11.88in screen. Other rumours place the screen size at 12in (which probably matches Matte's expectations).
In his blog Matte seems to be suggesting that there may only be one MacBook Air - this new 12-inch model, with the 13-inch model being phased out in favour of the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested back in October 2013 that Apple will launch a 12-inch MacBook Air in 2014. Kuo suggested that this new MacBook Air would have an entirely new design.
The smaller 12in model could still accommodate a reasonable sized screen and keyboard if it had a smaller bezel.
New MacBook Air fanless design
The new MacBook Air is also said to be even thinner than the existing MacBook Air, this is based on the theory that it will use Intel’s new Intel Core M processor - a chip that doesn’t need fans. By using this processor it is claimed that Apple could make the laptop 9mm thin. The MacBook Air is currently 0.3-1.7cm thick so it could be almost 1cm thinner at it's thickest point.
Apparently the fan assembly is the reason why the MacBook Air is thicker at one end than the other. Removing the fan assembly would enable Apple to make the laptop thinner than ever, according to reports.
Presumably there will be some sort of cooling system built in, however that my not be necessary. The new Intel processors are said to be efficient enough to make the removal of the fan feasible – indeed there are already laptops on the market that do not feature a fan.
Even the Core M may still require cooling in a 12in laptop though. The new Broadwell processor should enable a fanless design for the smaller (up to 11.6in) laptop or mobile device, notes Motley Fool, based on what Intel said at its developer forum in 2013.
It has been suggested that the MacBook Air could also offer thermal scaling and thermal management.
The advantage of a fanless design would also be quiet operation. Another benefit of having no fan is that there would be no moving parts (therefore less likely to break), it could also offer higher battery capacity because the remaining space could be used to house a bigger battery.
(We can't help but worry that history could repeat itself if the MacBook Air is fan free - Steve Jobs famously refused to include a fan in the Apple III leading to hardware failure.)
New MacBook Air : USB Type C
Is Marsh's source (above) is correct the new MacBook Air may offer USB Type C support which is smaller than USB 3 (it's 8.4x2.6mm). USB Type C is able to support 10Gbps data transfers, which is twice as fast as USB 3, but still slower than Thunderbolt 2 (although the same as the older Thunderbolt 1).
It will also support for up to 100 watts of power, which is apparently enough to power 4K displays, like Apple’s Thunderbolt cable does currently. The only problem is that USB Type C isn't backwards compatible.
New MacBook Air : inductive charging
Marsh's source also claims that the MagSafe port imay get a redesign and that the MacBook Air may charge in an entirely new way. Perhaps the new MacBook Air will use inductive charging like the Apple Watch does.
New MacBook Air : Trackpad changes
According to a report on Chinese site Weiphone earlier this year, the new MacBook Air will be thinner and lighter, a feat it will achieve by removing the fan and the clicking mechanism in the trackpad.
The new 12in model will drop the trackpad and introduce "force and optical sensors" and new touch gestures, according to this report from BEN Latest News.
MacBook Air : Retina display
Will the next MacBook Air feature a Retina display? That is the rumour and it is possible, although it could equally be the case that there is no Retina display, with Apple opting to instead keep prices down and offer the new MacBook Air at a lower price.
However, according our own reviews of the MacBook Air, the MacBook Air is currently let down by its display, which has a lower resolution than the competition.
Canalys analyst Daniel Matte has written a blog claiming that Apple will add a Retina display to the MacBook Air this year. He expects that we will see a 11.88-inch model with a resolution of 2,732x1,536 pixels, the same 264ppi that the iPad Air offers. He explains the significance of Apple using the same display technology for the MacBook Air and iPad Air, stating: "It turns out that an ~11.88” Retina MacBook Air with a 2732 x 1536 resolution happens to have the exact same pixel density as the 9.7” 2048 x 1536 Retina iPads: ~264 PPI. It would make sense for Apple to take advantage of the same display technology it has been utilizing for the 9.7” iPads by cutting their panels to this larger size."
Rumours also claim that the new MacBook Air Retina display could have a resolution of 2,304 x 1,440 for a rumoured 12in display (discussed below). That's 226 pixels per inch, compared to 227 pixels per inch for the 13in MacBook Pro (which offers 2,560-by-1,600 resolution). This adds up to a 16:10 aspect ratio like that found on the 13in MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models, rather than the 16:9 aspect ratio currently offered by the 11in MacBook Air.
The current 11.6-inch MacBook Air offers a 1366 x 768 pixel display.
The rumours of a MacBook Air with Retina display have been long running. Back in February 2013, rumours suggested that Apple was planning to launch a revamped MacBook Air with a Retina display in the third-quarter of 2013. A separate report in March 2013 also claimed that Apple would introduce a Retina display to the MacBook Air in 2013. Since this didn't happen in 2013, it is perhaps likely for 2014.
Apple does appear to be moving the whole of its range to Retina display. The company updated the Retina versions of its MacBook Pro in 2013, and also introduced a Retina iPad mini in October 2013.
Wondering what the Retina display fuss is all about? Read: What is a Retina display?
Apple may use the IGZO display technology for the new display – offering improved power efficiency. The reason for the supposition is that Apple was recruiting for a engineers with experience in LED backlighting and LCD displays, in February,according to CultofMac. In an LCD display the bunches of pixels with wires running behind to connect them. The backlight has to shine though this mesh of wires to light up the pixels. In an IGZO display more light is able to shine though this mesh of wires, so the power requirements are lower, and battery life can be preserved. As a result we could see even longer battery life than the 12 hours currently on offer from the 13in MacBook Air.
Rumours about a Retina MacBook Air with a smaller display have been circulating for some time. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested back in October 2013 that Apple will launch a 12-inch MacBook Air in 2014. Kuo suggested that this new MacBook Air would have an entirely new design.
Then back in January 2014, Evercore Partners analyst Patrick Wang predicted that a 12in MacBook/iPad hybrid would launch in the autumn of 2014. It is possible that the rumoured Retina display MacBook Air could be this Mac.
Canalys analyst Daniel Matte also believes Apple will add a Retina display to the MacBook Air this year.
New MacBook Air : processor
Intel has announced the new Intel Core M chip. Some expect that this processor may be used by Apple inside the new MacBook Air. As mentioned above, because this chip doesn’t need fans the new MacBook Air could be less than a centimeter at it's thickest point. Since it uses the 14nm processor the processor itself it is tiny.
The Core M processor should also enable the new MacBook to be more power-efficient with better battery life. Intel claims it’s the most energy efficient chip yet.
The Core M also offers excellent graphics processing power too, according to Intel. Intel says it will offer seven times the graphics power of four-year-old machines, and double the graphical and three times the web performance of the current range of high-end tablets.
However, Intel has not confirmed that Apple will use the new processor. In fact, in the press release regarding the new chip Intel mentions Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo and Toshiba as potentially using the Core M. Some of these models will be available in October, according to Intel.
The Core M is designed for small laptops, large tablets and 2-in-1 devices, and Intel is positioning the chips as being for use in laptops of 13.3in, tablets above 10in and dual devices. Apple would traditionally use the Core i5 chips in its MacBook, so it is possible that these processors will never appear in a MacBook Air which may instead use the new U Broadwell processor, which may not ship until 2015.
Which ever Broadwell processor Apple does use, it should make the Retina display MacBook Air possible. Broadwell is said to consume 30% less power than it's predecessor Haswell, and that should be good news for battery life on the portable Macs, especially those with power hungry screens.
Other features of the Broadwell chip are that it is low power and offers integration with WiDi, 4G WWAN, and WiGig networks.
The new MacBook Air might not use Intel chips
This rumour has been floating around for some time. It is possible that Apple will ditch the Intel processor in its range of laptop in favour of its own home-made A-series chips, like those found in the iPad and iPhone.
Some have even speculated that the new MacBook Air could mark some sort of crossover between the iPad and the MacBook, perhaps an iPad Pro.
However, rumours that Apple will move from Intel to ARM chips seem unlikely, based on this explaination from Cult of Mac.
New MacBook Air : price
With the price of the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro with Retina display being so close we had expected that Apple would reduce the price of the entry-level MacBook even further. It's currently £749 for the 11in model, which is £100 less than in 2013. This compares to the MacBook Pro Retina starting price of £999. However, the fact that the top-of the range iPhone 6 Plus costs more than the entry level MacBook Air (£789) makes us think that the MacBook Air price is more likely to increase.
It may be that the 13-inch MacBook Air is discontinued, as that model is similar in price to the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina, but not equal in specs. This would leave the cheaper 12-inch MacBook Air models with, potentially, an entry level price of £800.
When it first launched in October 2012, the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display started at £1,449. This was reduced to £1,249 a few months later when the range received a processor upgrade. Now, with the April 2014 update to the MacBook Air, the entry-level price of the 13-inch model is a much more compelling £999 which makes the difference between the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display and the 13-inch MacBook Air £250 rather than £150.
In his predictions last year, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested that the price of this new 12-inch MacBook Air model could be lower than the current line up of Mac laptops.
Read: Which 13-inch MacBook
Didn't Apple already introduce the 2014 MacBook Air?
Apple unveiled the latest update to the MacBook Air on 29 April 2014. Quietly updating its MacBook Air line-up with improved Haswell processors from Intel. You can read our review of the 2014 11in MacBook Air and the review of the 13in MacBook Air here.
Aside from the small processor boost and a tiny battery life tweak, the main change for the new MacBook Air models was the price. Each model is now under £1,000, with prices starting at £749, £100 less than the previous models. This helps keep the MacBook Air an attractive option for customers, as the previous price was not much different to the price of the new MacBook Pro with Retina display.
The range update came as some surprise as the Retina display for the MacBook Air rumour was already in circulation. Prior to the MacBook Air update in April, there were suggestions that the new MacBook Air with Retina display could launch at WWDC, but this was obviously not the case.
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