MacBook Air 2016 release date news, specs rumors: Apple discontinuing its MacBook Air line?

Jackie Villegas Sunday, July 10, 2016

The fact that the MacBook Air is long-overdue for an update may indicate that the ultra-thin MacBook model may be getting axed.

Along with speculations about a possible MacBook Air 2016, reports are now coming in about the possibility of Apple discontinuing its line of MacBook Airs. According to Mac Rumors, the fact that Apple did not update the MacBook Air to 8GB RAM, as it did the 13-inch MacBook back in April, could be a major hint that the line is being scrapped in favor of the MacBook Pro and the new MacBook.

In a recent report, Neurogadget said that with Apple busy working on the iPad Pro, there was no time to produce a MacBook Air 2016. The line's future was made uncertain with the arrival of the iPad Pro 2-in-1 convertible, which Apple marketed as a replacement for laptops. The iPad Pro can be easily used as a laptop with the addition of a Smart Keyboard, essentially turning it into a similar device to the MacBook Air.

According to Neurogadget, Apple may also be discontinuing the MacBook Air line so that it can focus on improving its MacBook Pro range.

KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has previously said that Apple will be axing both the 11-inch and the 13-inch MacBook Air and that upgrades for both devices will soon stop coming.

Nonetheless, not everyone believes that Apple could actually axe the MacBook Air. There are still speculations that a possible MacBook Air 2016 could feature a 5K display, a Lightning port in lieu of the standard 3.5mm headphone jack, and an OLED touch display bar.

While there is talk of a possible September launch alongside the new iPhone, Japanese website Mac Otakara suggested that the new MacBook Air could be launched before then and could begin shipping out in August. The website, which cited "a reliable Chinese supplier," also said that Apple is doing away with the Thunderbolt 2, MagSafe 2, and USB-A ports in existing models in favor of USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 ports in the MacBook Air 2016.