MacBook Air 2016 release date, specs, rumors: Apple launching new MacBook Air this fall to take on Microsoft Surface Pro 4

(Reuters)

Even as all the dust over the just released ultra-light MacBook has hardly settled down, Apple is now reportedly preparing to launch the 2016 MacBook Air this fall.

Apple has not updated its MacBook Air since April last year, indicating that it is time for the company to refresh its line of ultraportable notebooks. There have been various speculations about the features of the new MacBook Air, which is expected to be much more thinly designed with Retina display, similar to that in Apple's MacBook Pro line of laptops. The new MacBook Air is rumored to be powered by Intel's Core M-based Skylake processors, giving it an excellent battery life in comparison to its earlier versions.

Earlier reports have speculated about different variants of the new MacBook Air, with the base model expected to offer 4GB of RAM and 128GB SSD, a step-up model with a 256GB SSD and a top-tier model with a Core i7 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD. Apple will reportedly maintain the non-Retina resolution of 1440×900 in the new MacBook Air model with a 13.3-inch display, indicating that the company could keep the specs and price points of the new model similar to those in its existing models. Other reports have claimed that the new MacBook Air will be fanless, and do away with full-sized USB ports, MagSafe connectors, and SD card slot.

New reports now suggest that the Macbook Air 2016 will be announced officially in October this year and will be available by March 2016. Microsoft is also widely expected to release its tablet-laptop hybrid, the Surface Pro 4 by the end of 2015. This means that the Macbook Air 2016 and Surface Pro 4 are headed for a clash, and Apple is confident of taking on Microsoft's "laptop killer" with its all-new, thinner Retina Macbook Air. Stay tuned for more news about Macbook Air 2016 and Surface Pro 4.

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