Apple 12-inch MacBook Air Rumours: All You Need To Know

By Anuj

| Published: Thursday, February 5, 2015, 14:32 [IST]

Apple is reportedly preparing to hold a major press event later this month. The tech giant will apparently use the platform to discuss major new products underway, including the Apple Watch and the so-called 12-inch MacBook Air.

French Apple fan site iGen has received information from its close sources which indicates that Apple will hold an event in the last week of February, most likely on Tuesday, February 24th. That's a week before the annual Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona.

The press event could make some sense, if Apple wants to spread positive vibes around the Apple Watch, due in April. Although Apple already previewed the device in September 2014, the company may like to disclose how much each model of the Apple Watch will cost and when it will be available. A February event could give Apple a rare opportunity to offer comprehensive look around the Apple Watch, such as apps and battery life.

Apart from the Apple Watch, the tech giant could discuss the purported 12-inch MacBook Air that's set to appear in the first half of 2015. Rumours about the 12-inch MacBook Air have been circulating for over a year, but some reports suggest that the product could release later this month.

What are the new 12-inch MacBook features? Here's everything you need to know about the 12-inch MacBook Air.

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Apple 12-inch MacBook Air Rumours Suggest Super-Slim Design

According to 9to5Mac's Mark Gurman, the 12-inch MacBook Air laptop will be "approximately a quarter-of-an-inch narrower than the 11-inch version, yet it is also a quarter-of-an-inch taller in order to accommodate the slightly larger display." He writes that the new MacBook "jettisons standards such as full-sized USB ports, MagSafe connectors, and SD card slots in favor of a markedly thinner and lighter body with a higher-resolution display."

The Inspiration Behind the 12-inch MacBook Air

Gurman further writes that that "the entire unibody has been revamped from the keyboard to the trackpad to the speakers. He also mentioned that the new model will be inspired by 12-inch PowerBook introduced by Steve Jobs over a decade ago, the new keyboard sits edge-to-edge across the width of the laptop.

Apple PC shipments to grow 10-15% in 2015

The release of the much-anticipated 12-inch MacBook Air is expected to enhance Apple's product lineup, according to a report from DigiTimes.

"Apple is expected to sell anywhere from 10% to 15% more Macs this year than in 2014. The company is seen shipping 20 million to 23 million computers in 2015, compared to 19.59 million units in the previous period".

When is the new MacBook Air coming out?

According to DigiTimes Quanta Computer has started volume production of the new 12-inch MacBook Air, so it should be out soon. Previously DigiTimes reported Quanta Computer was set to begin production of the new 12-inch MacBook Air in July 2014.

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested that Apple will launch a 12-inch MacBook Air in 2014. Kuo suggested that the new MacBook Air model would have an entirely new design.

12-inch MacBook Air Photos Allegedly Leaked

The images suggest that the new MacBook Air, which is expected to go on sale in the coming months, has a Retina resolution, though the exact pixel count is still a mystery. One of the striking features of the 12-inch MacBook Air is that the Apple logo on the notebook appears to be closer to the polished metal logo found on the iPad, notes 9to5Mac.com.

What about internal hardware?

The new model could include mid-end specifications to make the device cheaper. However, it is not clear whether the leaked 12-inch model would be Apple's cheapest MacBook to date.

12-inch MacBook Air To Sport a single USB port

Looks like Apple appears to have done away with standard USB ports and SD card slot.

"The upcoming 12-inch Air has the fewest amount of ports ever on an Apple computer, as can be seen in the rendition above. On the right side is a standard headphone jack and dual-microphones for input and noise-cancelling. On the left side is solely the new USB Type-C port. Yes, Apple is currently planning to ditch standard USB ports, the SD Card slot, and even its Thunderbolt and MagSafe charging standards on this new notebook," notes 9to5Mac.com