14 DAY TRIAL // Apple is expected to take the wraps off a new iPad Pro this week, but it looks like an overhaul of the iMac and MacBook lineups won't launch in 2017, if we are to trust an alleged Foxconn employee who took to reddit to disclose some of Cupertino's plans.
While the iPad Pro itself is often positioned as a rival to Microsoft's Surface Pro, most people consider the MacBook to be a direct competitor against the Surface Pro and the recently-launched Surface Laptop, while the iMac is an alternative to the Surface Studio all-in-one PC that the software company launched in the fall of 2016.
And it's these two device lineups that aren't getting major refreshes this year, the Foxconn insider claims, which means that Apple agrees with Microsoft leading these two market sectors for a little longer.
Major iMac, MacBook overhaul coming next year
Specifically, the iMac will indeed receive a refresh this year, but it’ll be mostly subtle, with upgrades to take place only under the hood, meaning that it'll probably get new chips, more RAM and storage. On the other hand, a 2018 model will come with so much more, including a glass-based design with a dark black finish, as well as a glowing Apple logo that was available on the original models.
As far as the MacBook is concerned, the Foxconn employee says that a similar strategy is planned for the laptop as well, with some hardware upgrades to be released this year, but a more substantial overhaul coming in 2018. An e-ink keyboard, for instance, is very likely on the next-generation MacBook, plus an external Magic Keyboard that would be sold separately.
The MacBook Air itself could be discontinued, with Apple to focus on making all MacBook models as "Air-ish" as possible by cutting down the weight.
All these plans are obviously unconfirmed at this point, but we'll find out more about Apple's hardware strategy at WWDC, which kicks off in just a few hours.
