New rumors are spreading that Apple would be unveiling its new MacBook Air with Retina display this late February.
Apple Insider citing a French publication called iGen reported that the upcoming event has been set this February 24. It also speculated that the launch of the new MacBook Air would coincide with the release of the Apple Watch. This however contradicts earlier reports saying the new wearable would take center stage this April.
Another product being eyed in the February event is the rumored iPad Pro, also known as iPad Air Plus, which is dubbed as the bigger iPad. However, this is also not in line with earlier rumors that the over 12-inches iPad would be unveiled in the second quarter of this year.
Apple Insider noted that the last time Apple held a major product unveiling during the first quarter was in 2012. The product unveiled that time was the iPad third-generation. However, it claimed that iGen has a "respectable track record" when it comes to its Apple predictions.
Would the February launch date for the new MacBook Air with Retina display indeed happen this February? Digitimes earlier reported that the ODM Quanta Computer has already started production of the new 12-inch laptop, in time for its launch this first quarter of 2015. It also revealed that the Taiwanese firm has already increased the number of its workers for them to finish the products on time.
Aside from the new size, the biggest change in this alleged new Apple laptop could be the Retina display. Note that the Retina display is already used in other Apple products such as the MacBook Pro, the iMac, the iPhone 6, the iPhone 6 Plus, the iPod Touch, the iPad, the iPad Air, and the iPad Mini. It is also believed that the new Apple laptop will have the newly released Intel Broadwell Core M chips. There is also a possibility that the product will be fanless.
The laptop is also expected to get a new trackpad design, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, fast PCIe-based flash storage, and Thunderbolt 2 ports. Mac Rumors is also suggesting that it will be the first Apple notebook to have the new reversible USB Type C connector, allowing USB cables to be inserted into it at any orientation. The laptop is expected to come in three different colors -- Silver, Gold, and Space Gray.
Meanwhile, Chinese website iFanr revealed some photos of the metal shell allegedly being used for the 12-inch laptop. These rumors are still not confirmed as Apple has not yet issued any statement regarding the matter.