Apple is planning a new MacBook for 2018 that will replace the MacBook Air.
A Taiwanese website reports that Cupertino is likely working on a new MacBook that will use displays made by GIS (General Interface Solution).
This particular supplier already makes LCD panels for the existing 2017 MacBook models and, according to the aforementioned source, could expand production with a 13-inch display specifically aimed at a 13-inch MacBook in the second half of 2018.
This could be a sign that Apple is finally planning to retire the MacBook Air, a device that has been around since 2015 and only received a single CPU upgrade last year. The MacBook Air, however, is the only model in Apple's lineup that doesn't have a Retina display, and many argue that it has survived so far thanks to strong sales, the main catalyst of which has been its lower price.
In the United States, MacBook Air pricing starts at $999 for the 128GB version, while the 256GB model costs $1,199.
However, Apple says it is considering several major hardware upgrades for the MacBook line, including an ARM-based processor, which could help the company stop using Intel chipsets.
Additionally, it is believed that Cupertino is also increasingly interested in bringing OLED displays to its top-of-the-line MacBooks. This could be a strategy similar to what Apple plans to do with the iPhone starting with the 2018 generation, which is expected to include a more affordable model with an LCD display, as well as two more expensive options with OLED displays.
