MacBook Air 2016 release date, specs rumors: Mac notebook may release in October, may not feature Kaby Lake

Emmanuelle Espiritu Sunday, October 02, 2016

A MacBook Air laptop is pictured on display at an Apple Store in Pasadena, California July 22, 2013. | Reuters/Mario Anzuoni

Rumors about an upcoming MacBook Air 2016 update found new life following reports of Apple's intensive work in polishing up its newest operating system in preparation for several planned Mac updates. If recent speculations are true, the MacBook Air may finally see its first major upgrade in eight years alongside the highly anticipated MacBook Pro 2016.

The last minor update on the MacBook Air lineup was when Apple upgraded its processing unit to Broadwell about a year and a half ago. Fans of the Mac notebook are all geared up for more radical changes this year, if and when Apple does release a new MacBook Air model before the end of 2016.

One recurring rumor about the MacBook Air does not bode well for the 11-inch variant, which may be retired to give way to a 15-inch version, this is according to reports by TechRadar. The article also cited the possibility that the MacBook Air lineup may be wiped out completely so that Apple can focus more on its 12-inch MacBook and MacBook Pro upgrades. This also seems to coincide with reports of Apple pushing to make the iPad Pro more fit to replace their laptop line.

However, there are also speculations that favor the continued production of updated MacBook Air models. Forbes has recently cited a statement made by IHS Securities analyst, Rhoda Alexander, regarding Apple's intention to unveil an update for both the MacBook Pro and the MacBook Air in October.

Unfortunately, this may mean that the rumored MacBook Pro and the MacBook Air updates may not come with the anticipated Kaby Lake chip from Intel, but would instead be equipped with Intel's sixth generation Skylake processors. This choice may also serve to keep the MacBook Air within a more affordable price range than if it were to feature the Kaby Lake.

Another rumored feature of the MacBook Air is Siri, which may come to the Mac notebook for the first time via the macOS Sierra operating system, which is presumed to launch with the purported MacBook and MacBook Air October release.

These are all just speculations at this point and Apple has yet to release official details about a possible MacBook Air 2016 release.