Updated MacBook Air Line with New 15-Inch Model Coming in 1Q 2012?

macbook air 2011
Digitimes reports that Apple is set to update its MacBook Air line early next year, with a new 15-inch model appearing alongside refreshed 11.6-inch and 13.3-inch models. The update will reportedly take place during the first quarter of 2012.

Apple reportedly is set to launch its new MacBook Air series notebooks with panel sizes of 11.6-inch, 13.3-inch and 15-inch in the first quarter of 2012 and will directly compete against ultrabooks from PC brand vendors, according to sources from the upstream supply chain.

The sources noted that related upstream players have already started pilot production of the MacBook Air models and will add a 15-inch model into the product line to expand its reach in the ultra-thin notebook market.

The report notes that discounts on the current MacBook Air models should extend through the lead-up to the debut of the new models, continuing to drive Apple's already-strong sales of the ultra-thin notebook line.

We first began hearing word of an ultra-thin 15-inch notebook from Apple back in July, with other sources also weighing in on the topic in recent weeks. Digitimes had previously indicated that component production for the notebook had begun with an eye toward a second quarter 2012 launch.

Sources have generally been unsure whether the new 15-inch notebook would be an expansion of the MacBook Air line or if it would appear as a slimmer MacBook Pro model, but this latest report indicates that it will indeed be a MacBook Air product.

Intel's Ivy Bridge platform, which is due for a spring launch in line with the reported MacBook Air revamp timeline, will bring a significant upgrade to the line's performance, particularly with regard to graphics improvements and new OpenCL support.

Related Roundup: MacBook Air
Related Forum: MacBook Air

Popular Stories

m5 macbook pro deal

Why You Shouldn't Buy the Next MacBook Pro

Tuesday February 10, 2026 4:27 pm PST by
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models as soon as early March, but if you can, this is one generation you should skip because there's something much better in the works. We're waiting on 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, with few changes other than the processor upgrade. There won't be any tweaks to the design or the display, but later this...
iOS 26

Apple Releases iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3

Wednesday February 11, 2026 10:07 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3, the latest updates to the iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 operating systems that came out in September. The new software comes almost two months after Apple released iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. According to Apple's release notes, ...
Apple Logo Zoomed

Apple Expected to Launch These 10+ Products Over the Coming Months

Tuesday February 10, 2026 6:33 am PST by
It has been a slow start to 2026 for Apple product launches, with only a new AirTag and a special Apple Watch band released so far. We are still waiting for MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, the iPhone 17e, a lower-cost MacBook with an iPhone chip, long-rumored updates to the Apple TV and HomePod mini, and much more. Apple is expected to release/update the following products...
iPhone 16e Bottom Crop

Apple Reportedly Unveiling a New iPhone Next Week

Tuesday February 10, 2026 1:51 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report said the iPhone 17e will be announced in a press release on the Apple Newsroom website, so do not expect an event for this device specifically. The iPhone 17e will be a spec-bumped successor to the iPhone 16e. Rumors claim the device will have four key...
Apple Logo Black

Apple Acquires New Database App

Wednesday February 11, 2026 6:44 am PST by
Apple acquired Canadian graph database company Kuzu last year, it has emerged. The acquisition, spotted by AppleInsider, was completed in October 2025 for an undisclosed sum. The company's website was subsequently taken down and its Github repository was archived, as is commonplace for Apple acquisitions. Kuzu was "an embedded graph database built for query speed, scalability, and easy of ...

Top Rated Comments

186 months ago
Even Mac Pro barely are capable of use that amount of RAM fully. Stop being ridiculous people.

I'm not just talking out the side of my head. Some people actually use their macbook pros.

Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
186 months ago
Digitimes is such an incompetent site.

A bit of logic:
Is Ivy bridge ready Q1?

Answer:
No

Will Apple release a new macbook air weeks before Ivy bridge?
Answer:
No.

Macbook air refresh is technically possible when Ivy bridge is ready. Intel have before given Apple CPUs a couple of month before other companies but since Intel/Apple exclusive contract ended Intel have not given Apple pre released CPUs.

This is just like Ipad2+ Ipad2HD that would be released earlier this year. I asked all "experts": Who is going to produce the 28nm A6 and the Retina display? Stuff can't be released before its technically possible.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
186 months ago
Damn it! Was really excited until I saw the question mark at the end of the article title! :rolleyes:
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
186 months ago
..Until there's confirmation, I think we've had enough stories ending in a question mark.

Finding rumors on a rumors site,...

PREPOSTEROUS!
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
theSeb Avatar
186 months ago
Even Mac Pro barely are capable of use that amount of RAM fully. Stop being ridiculous people.
Sorry, but that's incorrect. Mac OSX will use as much RAM as you throw at it. If there is a lot free it will use it for system caching and even creates a RAM disk in the background.

I can easily see 20 GB page ins and 10 GB page outs during a normal day.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
186 months ago
at what point will we see edge-to-edge displays? The current borders around lcd screens look so 1980's to me.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)