Rumored 12-inch MacBook with Retina display may be facing production delays because there aren't enough of Intel's Broadwell chips to go around.
Touted to have the portability of an 11-inch MacBook Air, the processing ability of a 13-inch MacBook Pro and a high-definition display, the 12-inch MacBook with Retina display was first heard of in October 2013 when KGI securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo commented about the machine. Other rumored features include a stripped-down "ultra slim" chassis with "click-less" trackpad and a new fan-less design for a more streamlined profile.
With production supposedly starting in the third quarter of the year, more rumors pointed to a Fall 2014 launch date for the 12-inch MacBook with Retina display. But if more rumors are to be believed, it looks like the MacBook Air successor won't be available until at least late 2014. More conservative estimates put its release date further to mid-2015.
This is because Intel's Broadwell chips are not ready. The chips have been delayed several times now and it's forcing Apple to push back the launch of its products. At least where the 12-inch MacBook and iMac are concerned.
The new 11- and 13-inch models of the MacBook Air are set to start production in August, with partner supplier Quanta reportedly receiving various components to be assembled next month. If this goes according to schedule, Quanta is expected finish volume shipments in time for selling in October.
"Looking at the executive team, the reason we are successful is because of our focus. We are not smart enough to do 100 great things. We want to do a few incredible things, and that hasn't changed. We're going to keep going down that path... Later this year, we've got the best product pipeline that I've seen in my 25 years at Apple," said Eddy Cue, Senior Vice President for Apple, in an interview at this year's Code Conference.
Maybe he was referring to the rumored 12-inch MacBook with Retina display.
If the 12-inch MacBook with Retina display is real, it will mark the first time Apple expanded the Mac line since the MacBook Pro with Retina Display lineup was introduced in 2012.
The most recent upgrade from Apple was for the MacBook Air in April when the lineup received a minor speed boost and a slight price drop. The last time a significant upgrade was implemented was in mid-2013.
