Apple MacBook 2017 models to be announced in June; Air notebook could get a surprise upgrade

Apple is reportedly announcing new laptop models at the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2017) that is set to happen in June. Expected to be announced are the revamped versions of the MacBook and MacBook Pro. The company is likewise thinking of overhauling the more affordable Air notebook.

The most recent MacBook Pro refresh happened in October of last year when Apple equipped it with a Touch Bar and made the unit slimmer. The new Pro laptop is reportedly going to house a faster Kaby Lake chipset, which is an improvement over the Skylake processor of the recent model. Don’t expect an external overhaul, though, as Apple is likely just going to update the new system’s internal components.

The California tech giant is said to be working on a customised ARM chip that could optimise the MacBook Pro’s low power features. Unfortunately, the new chip may not make it in time for the launch. The MacBook, meanwhile, is also expected to pack a new Kaby Lake processor.

According to Bloomberg, the MacBook Air is also likely getting a processor upgrade, which could mean that it’s here to stay for an extended period of time. The variant was last updated more than a couple of years. Apple has been phasing it out to give way to the MacBook and the MacBook Pro, but it remains popular among consumers due to being less expensive.

Word has it that Apple is also launching a brand new Siri speaker at the June event. The rumoured 10.5-inch iPad Pro with supposed thinner bezels and an almost edge-to-edge look is likewise expected to show up at WWDC 2017. Those who are hoping for some desktop refresh, however, should not get their hopes up as there is no buzz regarding a new iMac or Mac Mini at the five-day conference.

Apple is indeed working on its new desktop line-up, but it could take a while before the batch is launched. The most recent iMac update was back in October 2015, close to 600 days ago. The Mac Mini, on the hand, hasn’t received an upgrade since October 2014. That’s over 940 days ago.

Previous reports indicate that Apple could sell the 13-inch basic MacBook Pro 2017 for about US$2,199 (AU$2,965) while the 15-inch model with Touch Bar could carry an astounding US$4,249 (AU$5,730) price tag. The new Pro line-up is projected to sport upgraded 3,200 x 1,800 QHD+ Retina displays.

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