MacBook Air 2017 release date, canceled rumors: Will Apple launch updated MacBook Air next year?

Apple hasn't been giving the MacBook Air much attention lately. The company did not mention that it is developing a new MacBook Air in their keynote events this year, and the device hasn't been updated since March 9, 2015. That is like an eternity in the tech industry.

Well, Apple did give the 13-inch MacBook Air a minor update earlier this year, but that's not exactly what buyers were looking for. A little increase in random-access memory (RAM) isn't going to cut it and consumers want a MacBook Air with new features and improved specs. Does Apple have any plans to release a new MacBook Air next year? Or is the company going to discontinue the line of laptops? Apple has officially axed the 11-inch MacBook Air a couple of months ago, will the 13-inch model be the next to go?

Despite the warning signs, sources still believe that Apple will eventually release an updated MacBook Air next year. But there's a possibility that the MacBook Air 2017 may be the final version of the laptop. Macworld UK thinks that the device may come out sometime between March–May 2017.

If Apple does release the MacBook Air 2017, reports suggest that the device may use Intel's seventh-generation Core i7 processor — the Kaby Lake, and it is believed that the laptop will also sport one of AMD's next-generation graphics cards.

Sources say the new MacBook Air may also feature an Apple Pencil-enabled Trackpad, an E-ink keyboard, a new improved battery, the Touch ID fingerprint recognition feature and Force Touch technology. It also supports USB Type-C, Thunderbolt 3 and DisplayPort 1.2 ports.

As of this moment, Apple has yet to announce that a new MacBook Air is under development. Until it makes a confirmation, all reports concerning the laptop are rumors at best, so readers are advised to take everything with a grain of salt.