Oliver Haslam·

2018 MacBook Air Refresh Rumored With Low Price Tag, HomePod Demand Remains “Mediocre”

In a rare outing into the rumor world for the 13-inch MacBook Air, we have analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities reporting that Apple plans to offer a more affordable 13-inch MacBook Air at some point during the course of 2018.

According to a note handed out to investors, Kuo believes that a new MacBook Air “with a lower price tag” will arrive during the second quarter of the year, with the move expected to improve MacBook shipments by anything up to 15%.

At this stage, concrete details on the new MacBook Air are very hard to come by, although the notoriously hit and miss DigiTimes had previously hinted to a MacBook Air refresh. The whole MacBook Air lineup has found itself the victim of a shift in focus for Apple, with the 12-inch MacBook proving to be the computer that the company has pushed as its ultra thin and light device. Even the once ignored MacBook Pro has received more attention than the MacBook Air of late, fueling rumors that the line is not long for this world.

With the current 13-inch MacBook Air starting at $999 for the base model, Kuo believes that Apple will push the updated model at a cheaper price point, although just how much cheaper remains to be seen.

Kuo also mentioned in his notes that demand for the HomePod appears to be “mediocre” so far, although it is still early days for the smart speaker.

With some key features such as AirPlay 2.0 still missing from the device, it’s possible some are holding off for a full set of features ahead of splashing the $349 needed to get Apple’s first smart speaker into their homes.

(Via: 9to5Mac)

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