A new report claims that Apple is getting ready to update its super slim MacBook Air. The notebook will gain a Retina display; have a fan-less design, and new solid trackpad.
Apple brought its Retina display technology into our lives when the company released the iPhone 4 in June 2010. It was Steve Jobs' final iPhone introduction and he claimed that its Retina display was so sharp with its pixel density of 326 pixels, which was higher than what a human's retina could distinguish. The Retina display has now turned into a standard iPhone feature.
Retina display made its way to iPad screens when Apple released the iPad 3 in March 2012 and it appeared on the iPad mini last year. Apple added a Retina display option to its MacBook Pro notebook line in 2012 and a new report claims that the incredibly thin MacBook Air will gain a Retina display and some new features.
A source that has provided accurate Apple leaks in the past posted information in a Chinese forum about Apple's upcoming MacBook Air refresh. The notebook will reportedly gain a 12-inch Retina display, a fan-less ultra-thin redesigned case, and a new trackpad that doesn't include a mechanical button.
The source's information backs up a report from an analyst in October 2013 who claimed the 12-inch notebook would boast the portability of the 11-inch MacBook Air and productivity of the 13-inch model. The analyst also claimed the notebook would be lighter and slimmer than the existing MacBook Air and the redesign would further highlight its ultra-portable design.
Apple already has some solid experience with fan-less computers that don't overheat. The company's entire iOS catalog of devices features a fan-less design, which in turn helps them to have excellent battery life. Expect the new MacBook Air to see a noticeable improvement in battery life.
The upcoming MacBook Air will reportedly introduce a button less trackpad design. It's unclear why Apple is moving to a solid trackpad, but it could have something to do with a patent application from Apple, which describes a button-less trackpad that uses sensors and an actuator to function in the same way current trackpads do.
The source doesn't reveal an exact release date for the new MacBook Air, except saying they are coming soon.
