Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says we can expect an all-new MacBook Air later this year

Apr 25, 2014 09:39 GMT  ·  By

The Frenchies at MacG are citing reliable sources as saying that Apple will be announcing its first product refresh as early as next week. Don’t expect anything revolutionary, though. The source says it’s only an upgraded MacBook Air with a faster processor and maybe more storage.

Granted, a refreshed Mac is not an all-new product, but it is the first new thing out of Apple this year, so it counts. The upgrade will consist of a faster processor and extra storage for the base model, but the latter spec remains unconfirmed. In fact, both claims remain unconfirmed, but the former is more likely.

MacBook Air currently ships with 128GB of Flash storage as standard, which means Apple could theoretically double that amount next week. The upgrade would be senseless coupled with a price spike (since you can actually get a 256GB model for a few extra notes), so that’s pretty much out of the question.

Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities issued a lengthy research note earlier this month projecting Apple’s entire roadmap for the year, including an all-new MacBook Air model boasting a 12-inch Retina display.

The analyst specifically said it would be “as portable as current 11-inch MacBook Air and productive as 13-inch MacBook Air,” adding that it would be thinner and lighter than the current lineup, featuring a new clamshell design.

The computer will “redefine laptop computing,” Kuo said, adding that it will sport an Intel processor, not an A8 chip as others have speculated. It’s also possible it will cost less than the current models, he added, which means you may want to hold out your purchase.

The iMac line of desktop computers should also receive a processor upgrade and perhaps more all-Flash configurations starting this year.

The MacBook Pro range of professional laptops will probably witness the discontinuation of the only remaining model that boasts an optical drive, while the Mac mini line will most likely get new chips too.

Having just refreshed the Mac Pro a few months ago, the most powerful computer in the entire Macintosh line is not expected to undergo any changes soon.

Some Macintosh upgrades will most likely be announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference in early June, so mark your calendars and keep a fair distance from those cash reserves. Next week’s upgrade may be the least important announcement of the whole year (if confirmed).