MacBook Air 2016 release date, specs rumors: No Retina display for Air; MacBook Pro to launch this month?

Emmanuelle Espiritu Sunday, October 09, 2016

A MacBook Air laptop is pictured on display at an Apple Store in Pasadena, California July 22, 2013. | Reuters/Mario Anzuoni

Now that October is finally here, rumors about a possible MacBook Air 2016 unveiling are reaching its peak yet again. But are the rumors steering Air fans to a more favorable turnout or will they lead to another disappointing no-show?

According to ZDNet, analysts are optimistic about an upcoming MacBook Air refresh despite rumors of Apple's alleged plans to retire the Air to presumably focus on MacBook and MacBook Pro updates.

But reports of the MacBook Air's impending death may have been greatly exaggerated. The same ZDNet article argued that pulling the plug on the Air will rob consumers who may want to upgrade to the newest macOS, a choice for a low-cost Mac. So it seems unlikely for the Cupertino-based tech company to chop the MacBook Air from its lineup.

Moreover, rumors about the notebook continue to leak, with the latest reports stating that Apple may unveil the MacBook Air 2016 together with a refreshed MacBook Pro before the end of October. The Retina display feature that was first rumored in 2013 has persistently been part of the annual speculations following since then.

But according to Macworld, if Apple hopes to keep the MacBook Air 2016 more affordable than its high-end contemporaries, the Retina display may not be happening anytime soon. Then again, if the rumor about a possible 15-inch model turns out to be true, the Retina display may be featured exclusively in this particular variant.

The Retina display ups the screen resolution to 326 pixels per inch, allowing for sharper display of images. It also comes with an ambient light sensor that automatically makes adjustments to the display depending on the level of light in a given environment.

There are also rumors that the MacBook Air 2016 update may only feature an increase in RAM for the 13-inch model. The existing ports in the current Air may also be replaced with a single USB-C port.

These are all just speculations at this point. Apple has yet to release an official statement regarding a possible MacBook Air 2016 release.