Sarah Tew/CNET I can't believe it's actually happening. Seriously, I can't and won't believe until Apple says it on stage -- Bloomberg reports that Apple is finally updating its Mac mini desktop, and updating its lowest cost MacBook with a high-resolution Retina Display screen. Technically, Bloomberg says it's a new low-cost MacBook, not necessarily a MacBook Air, which lines up with rumors we've heard before. But the publication also says it'll look like a MacBook Air and will have a similar size screen around 13 inches. If it quacks like a duck... Some context: The Mac Mini hasn't been updated since October 2014. Your phone might legitimately be more powerful than a Mac Mini today. CNET's Ian Sherr gave up waiting, and built his own Hackintosh We've been wondering why the heck Apple wouldn't give the $1,000 MacBook Air a competitive, high-resolution screen since 2013 basically been in a holding pattern since 2015 We've heard rumors that these updates might finally come to pass, but they've been wrong before, so we're still taking this report with a grain of salt. But Apple CEO Tim Cook did recently hint that the Mac Mini was still on his mind... and Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who's got a solid track record for Apple predictions, did suggest that we'd see a new MacBook and the return of the Mac mini this year. Bloomberg says the Mac mini will be focused on pro users, which makes us wonder if it'll lean heavily on external graphics boxes. Apple's been building support for those, and TechCrunch got a sense from a recent Apple tour that modular processing power might be key to Apple's pro strategy going forward. Apple declined to comment.<doc-sep>Apple computer users have long begged the company to update its MacBook Air line with a hi-res display, and those wishes may finally come true. This is according to a new report that will surely raise expectations for Apple's fall announcements. In a Bloomberg story, the ever-reliable Mark Gurman (reporting with Debby Wu) reports that Apple "will release a new low-cost laptop" and pegs the release for "later this year." This adds more smoke to an ever-growing fire, as an Aug. 17 report tipped Apple's hand on a "13-inch inexpensive MacBook" that was "originally set to be released in the fourth quarter of 2017." MORE: Which MacBook Should You Buy? MacBook vs. Air vs. Pro The source's report suggests that the new MacBook may be a continuation of the Air line, as the laptop "will look similar to the current MacBook Air, but will include thinner bezels around the screen." Specifically, the display, "will remain about 13-inches, will be a higher-resolution 'Retina' version that Apple uses on other products." While we wish every laptop were ultra-affordable, it's unclear what a 'low-cost' laptop is when Apple is selling the notebook. The cheapest MacBook Air currently costs $999, and the line has started as low as $899 in recent history. If this is indeed a new MacBook Air, that leaves one remaining question mark in Apple's laptop portfolio: the MacBook, which offers just one USB Type-C port and was last updated in June of last year. That laptop starts at an even-higher $1,299, but its Retina display and extremely lightweight design (2.03 pounds, 0.52 inches thin) made a case for its price tag. This article originally appeared on Laptop Mag.<doc-sep>MacBook Air 2018: What's new with Apple's revamped lightweight laptop, and how it compares to the other MacBook ranges. Apple has revealed the new MacBook Air 2018 range. The new ultra-portable comes with a 13.3-inch Retina Display screen bordered by a super-skinny bezel, Touch ID, storage up to 1.5TB and memory up to 16GB with everything powered by a dual-core Intel Core i5 CPU. The new MacBook Air 2018 range, which goes on sale today, November 7, was revealed during Apple’s October 30 event along with a slew of other gadgets, including a new Mac mini and iPad Pro. Apple’s CEO Tim Cook and vice president of hardware engineering Laura Grove talked through the basics of the new MacBook Air range during the launch event. Read on for every scrap of information we have on the new laptop. Related: Best MacBook MacBook Air 2018 – What’s new? Grove said the new 13.3-inch Retina Display “quadruples” the pixel count of the old MacBook Air range, boasting a 2560×1600 native resolution. The MacBook Air also promises “48% more colour” than the previous iteration’s screen. With shells which are fashioned entirely from recycled aluminium, these are the most environmentally friendly MacBook Airs to date. You’re free to pick between Gold, Silver and Space Grey finishes too. As well as cranking up the pixel count, Grove said that Apple engineers have shrunk the bezels by 50%, taking the display “right to the edge of the enclosure”. The the new MacBook Air is even lighter now too, weighing in at 1.25kg. Other features coming to the new MacBook Air include those what we’ve seen elsewhere in Apple’s laptop ranges over the years. These are the Touch ID fingerprint scanner, which lets you confirm iTunes purchases as well as unlock your device, an always-on audio processor for constant Siri support, a Force Touch trackpad and a 3rd-gen butterfly keyboard. In terms of ports, you’ll get two Type-C USB ports supporting Thunderbolt 3, along with a 3.5mm headphone jack. The top end storage option is a 1.5TB SSD, while the maximum amount of memory you’ll be able to get in your new MacBook Air is 16GB of 2133MHz RAM. A dual-core 8th gen Intel Core i5 CPU with a base clock speed of 1.6GHz and boost speed of 3.6GHz runs the show, promising speeds that will delight both web browsers and creatives. Related: Apple Black Friday 2018 MacBook Air 2018 – Specifications Want the exact specifications? We’ve piled them all into the table below so you know exactly what you’re getting for your money. MacBook Air 2018 Display 13.3-inch Retina Display, 2560 x 1600 LED Processor 8th Gen Intel Core i5, base clock 1.6GHz, boost up to 3.6GHz Memory 8GB 2133MHz LPDDR3 RAM (configurable up to 16GB) Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1.5TB SSD Graphics Intel UHD Graphics 617 Ports 2 x Type-C USB (Thunderbolt 3 support), 3.5mm headphone jack Connectivity 802.11ac Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth 4.2 Misc 720p FaceTime HD camera, TouchID, T2 security chip, 3rd-gen butterfly switched keys Dimensions 4.1–15.6 x 304.1 x 212.4 mm Weight 1.25kg Battery Up to 13 hours video playback (iTunes) Price range from £1199 ($1199 in US) MacBook Air 2018 release date – When is the MacBook Air 2018 coming out? The new MacBook Air goes on sale today, November 7. Related: Best laptops MacBook Air 2018 price – How much will the new MacBook Air cost? A new MacBook Air with 128GB of storage costs £1199. Fancy 256GB storage instead? Then you’ll have to cough up £1399. Both configurations are a little more expensive than we were expecting, especially when you consider the 2017 range started at £949. Then again, you’re getting a beefier processor and plenty of nifty features in return. What would you like to see on the new MacBook Air? Let us know @TrustedReviews.<doc-sep>
Apple is working on several new products for its Mac lineup, including a new low-cost MacBook Air and a Pro-focused Mac mini, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The upcoming low-cost MacBook Air will be similar in design to the current MacBook Air, but with slimmer bezels around the display. It will continue to be sized around 13 inches, and it will feature a Retina display. We've heard multiple rumors about the upcoming low-cost notebook, but it has been unclear whether it is part of the MacBook family or if it will be branded as a MacBook Air. Today's report makes it clear that the new machine is going to be positioned as a MacBook Air upgrade, aimed at students and schools with a lower price tag than MacBooks in the MacBook family. Apple is continuing to make new MacBook models as well, and it's not yet clear how the company will differentiate the new MacBook Air from the MacBook. Right now, the MacBook's higher price tag, slimmer body, and Retina display set it apart from the MacBook Air. Apple is also said to be working on an upgrade to the Mac mini, which has not seen an update since October 2014. Little detail is available about the upcoming machine, but it is said to be focused on pro users with new storage and processor options that are likely to make it more expensive than previous Mac mini products. 2017 rumors suggested Apple was working on a Mac mini that "won't be so mini anymore," which would be in line with a machine that has more powerful, less compact components. Bloomberg suggests Apple could potentially be planning to introduce the new Macs in October, following a September event that will see the launch of new iPhones and new Apple Watch models. New iPad Pro models with Face ID are also in the works, but it is not clear if these will debut in September or October.