Apple Releases New MacBook Air Models With Faster Haswell Processors At Cheaper Prices

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) released faster versions of its MacBook Air models on Tuesday with a price reduction of $100 on each model.

The new MacBook Airs, with 11-inch and 13-inch displays, are 100MHz faster compared to previous versions. And, each entry-level model of MacBook Air features a dual-core 1.4GHz Core i5 processor with Turbo Boost up to 2.70GHz, while build-to-order options include a 1.7 GHz dual-core Intel Core i7 processor with up to 8GB of RAM on both the 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Airs.

As predicted, the CPU specifications of the updated MacBook Airs line up with Intel Corporation’s (NASDAQ:INTC) Haswell architecture, AppleInsider reported.

According to Apple’s U.S. online store, both entry-level models of the 11-inch and 13-inch models are now available for sale at $899 and $999 with 128GB of flash storage, while the higher-end 11-inch and 13-inch models come with 256GB of flash storage and are priced at $1,099 and $1,199 respectively.

In terms of build-to-order options, a 1.7GHz Core i7 CPU with Turbo Boost up to 3.3GHz is available for $150 while an extra 8GB of RAM is priced at $100 and 512GB of flash storage will cost $300 more.

In addition to the faster processor, the battery specs for both new models list slightly longer iTunes Movie playback times. While the 11-inch models jump from eight hours to nine hours of playback, the 13-inch models offer 10 hours to 12 hours of playback, MacRumors reported. All base models of the new MacBook Airs are available to ship within 24 hours, while build-to-order deliveries are said to be available to ship within two to four business days.

Although Apple did not add Retina displays to the MacBook Air -- its most affordable laptop offerings -- Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst at KGI Securities, expects the company to launch a high-resolution MacBook later this year in a new 12-inch ultra-slim design.

Here is what Kuo said about the 12-inch MacBook:

We expect the unprecedented 12” model will boast both the portability of the 11” model and productivity of the 13” model. The high-resolution display will also offer the outstanding visual experience of the Retina MacBook Pro. The offering will likely be lighter and slimmer than the existing MacBook Air to further highlight ease of portability in the cloud-computing era. We think the form factor will showcase a much-improved clamshell structure, and that it will redefine laptop computing once again following the milestone created by the MacBook Air.