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Apple’s MacBook Air successor will reportedly have slim bezels and high-res Retina display

Apple’s MacBook Air successor will reportedly have slim bezels and high-res Retina display

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And a new Mac Mini is apparently on the way alongside it

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Photo by Nilay Patel / The Verge

Apple is nearing the release of a long-awaited, completely redesigned successor to its MacBook Air laptop, according to Bloomberg. The new “low-cost” model reportedly features slimmer bezels and a high-resolution Retina display. It will otherwise “look similar to the current MacBook Air,” though port selection is anyone’s guess.

The once-revered MacBook Air has languished in update limbo ever since Apple shifted its focus to the MacBook Pro and 12-inch MacBook. Some viewed the latter’s introduction as Apple moving on from the Air. But its starting price is hundreds of dollars more expensive, which has led the company to keep the $1,000 Air around — with its low-res screen and outdated specs — for customers on a budget and for the education market.

Both affordable Macs have languished in update limbo

Apple is also said to be working on an update to the Mac Mini, its miniature desktop computer that has been even more neglected in the company’s update plans. Bloomberg writes that “new storage and processor options are likely to make it more expensive than previous versions” because Apple is optimizing the next Mac Mini for the loyal customers that have used it as a home theater PC, server rack, or for software development purposes.

Last October, Tim Cook signaled that Apple hasn’t forgotten about the Mac Mini despite the several-year pause since its last substantial hardware upgrade. “We do plan for Mac Mini to be an important part of our product line going forward,” he wrote in an email to a customer.

Apple is expected to unveil three new iPhone models and a redesigned iPad Pro with Face ID next month. One or both Mac computers could also debut at the September event, but it’s also very possible that Apple will hold back their reveal until a month later in October.