Apple could have a cut-price MacBook Air in store for later this year
Steve Jobs presented the first MacBook Air in January 2008. Image: AFP/Tony Avelar via AFP Relaxnews
Launched to great fanfare 10 years ago but barely updated in almost three years, Apple could now have a new version of its MacBook Air in the pipeline for release in the second half of 2018, according to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
The idea would be for Apple to release a new 13-inch MacBook Air at a particularly low price point for this model, which would remain the entry-level offering in Apple’s range. Rumors evoke a starting price of just $799 (P41,400), or thereabouts.
With this kind of product, Apple could target lower-income users, starting with students, who often look to alternative options running Windows 10 or even Chrome OS. So, rather than abandoning the Air, as some may have expected, Apple could be set to prolong the lifespan of this product. Indeed, the MacBook Air is a still-strong brand, even if somewhat overshadowed in recent years by more profitable MacBook and MacBook Pro ranges.
If the rumor turns out to be true, the device could be revealed at the next Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), held in San Jose, California, June 2018.
The current MacBook Air starts at $999 (almost P52,000) in the United States, in its most basic configuration, with specs including a dual-core 1.8 GHz Intel Core i5 processor, a 128GB SSD and 8GB RAM. JB
RELATED STORIES:
Apple overtakes Samsung in shrinking smartphone market – survey
Patent details optical system for possible Apple smart glasses
