The MacBook Air is dead. Long live the MacBook Pro. That’s because Apple just killed and replaced it with a (slightly) more affordable MacBook Pro model.
So, what differentiates the new 13-inch MacBook Pro from the recently deceased MacBook Air? Firstly, there are now two ThunderBolt 3 ports, replacing the previous old-school USB ports. It also comes with an upgraded Skylake processor, which promises vastly improved performance, especially when it comes to graphically intensive applications.
On the graphics front, it’s packing a 13.3-inch Retina display, backed up with Intel Iris 540 Graphics. It also includes the second generation butterfly keyboard mechanism (with the traditional function keys intact), as well as a Force Touch trackpad. Noticeably absent is Touch ID on the lower-end 13.3-inch variant.
This model will set you back $1,499.
The 💜 of EU tech
The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!
Unsurprisingly, Apple has taken the decision to retire the 11-inch MacBook Air. This actually makes a lot of sense. It’s not too far away from the entry-level Retina MacBook, both in terms of price and form factor. Getting rid of it vastly streamlines Apple’s product line.
Earlier rumors about the discontinuation of the 11-inch MacBook Air originated from Japanese site Mac Otakara.
Apple will continue to sell MacBook Air laptops while stocks last, but there almost certainly won’t be a hardware refresh ever again.
Follow our full coverage of Apple’s event here.
Get the TNW newsletter
Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.