
According to KGI Securities analyst, Ming Chi-Kuo, Apple may potentially be planning to release a 12-inch MacBook with an all-new design and high-resolution Retina Display in the middle of 2014, More specifically, the new MacBook is expected to feature a clamshell form factor even thinner than the current MacBook Air and may debut at a lower price point than the current Retina MacBook Pro line due to an improving yield rate.
Although Kuo stops short of calling the new model a replacement for the current MacBook Air lineup, his description of the model suggests that it would indeed supersede Apple’s current ultra-slim notebook line. The following was mentioned regarding the situation:
We expect the unprecedented 12” model will boast both the portability of the 11” model, and productivity of the 13” model. The high resolution display will also offer the outstanding visual experience of the Retina MacBook Pro. The offering will likely be lighter and slimmer than the existing MacBook Air to further highlight ease of portability in the cloud computing era. We think the form factor will showcase a much improved clamshell structure, and that it will redefine laptop computing once again following the milestone created by the MacBook Air.
For those of you who didn’t already know, Kuo has been quite accurate with his predictions over the past several years including several outlined details of Apple’s 2013 launch plans as far back as January. His other accurate predictions have included the introduction of a “third MacBook line” that arrived in the form of Retina MacBook models and the discontinuation of the 17-inch MacBook Pro last year.
Source: KGI Securities
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