Apple To Launch New MacBook Pro And MacBook Air Models Later This Year

Apple will be releasing new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models later during the second half of the year, a noted analyst claims.

Famed TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo released a research note earlier claiming that Apple will release new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models specifically during the second half of the year, MacRumors reported. It's worth noting that this prediction comes after several reports quoting the analyst as saying Cupertino's new MacBooks will come during the first half of 2020.

Kuo didn't provide any details regarding the devices' specs and features, but based on his earlier predictions, it appears that one of these will be a 14-inch MacBook Pro. This is especially true considering the 16-inch MacBook Pro was just released a few months ago – it would be unlikely for Apple to quickly refresh the warmly-received model with a new one in just a short period of time.

MacRumors noted that the new 14-inch model might be replacing the existing 13-inch MacBook Pro, which will be discontinued. This won't be surprising, considering how the 16-inch MacBook pro replaced the 15-inch model which was discontinued.

Without revealing any potential configurations, the analyst indicated that the upcoming MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models will be offered in varying costs, depending on their specifications. Despite the various cost optimizations, however, fans and users “will not notice the difference,” MacRumors noted.

What to expect

Although Kuo did not provide any spec or feature that the aforementioned MacBook Pro and MacBook Air might have, earlier reports can provide consumers with ideas about what they might have.

First, it's possible that they might feature new mini-LED technology. According to an earlier report, Kuo said Apple is working on six products that use mini-LED. These devices include a “14.1-inch MacBook Pro.” The MacBook Air is not mentioned there, but anything is possible.

Second, they might feature the more reliable scissor keyboard. Kuo said last year that Apple will replace the troublesome butterfly keyboard on its new MacBooks that will be released in 2020. The 16-inch MacBook Pro was the first to feature this, but “the refresh versions of other MacBook models in 2020 will change to adopt the scissor mechanism keyboard, too,” he said.