MacBook Air Retina Release Date, Specs & Features: Christmas Launch For New Laptop?

Apple seems to understand that its customers may not like to be kept waiting -- and so rumors have surfaced claiming that the Cupertino giant won't be slacking until 2015 to bring the new Macbook Air with Retina Display. If this holds true, the new laptop might come out sooner than expected.

According to BGR, a recent report from Taiwan-based outlet Industrial and Commercial Times indicated that the revamped 12-inch laptop would launch at the end of 2014. Christmas time seems to be a very promising idea, given that Intel has already shipped, reportedly, a batch of Broadwell Core M chips to Apple. BGR informed that these chips are said to be the reason behind the delay of Retina Macbook Air's mass production.

Citing the same Taiwan-based source, Christian Today also mentioned that the chips were intended to provide Macbook Air improved battery life and resolution. This coincides with our previous report that Apple prefers longevity over display, although it was then predicted that the chips are coming out next year.

Nevertheless, all these speculations reveal that the Retina-packed, slim-conscious laptop is taking off its wraps even before we know them!

In an earlier report, Macworld mentioned that blogger Jack Marsh appeared to have some juicy information about the new Macbook Air. Apparently, the model ended up to be so thin that the Cupertino giant eventually needed a new, reversible USB Type C connector to accompany it.

For the same reason, the outlet added that the MagSafe port is also undergoing redesign. The new laptop model is allegedly sporting three color variants: gold, silver and space gray.

Gospel Herald reported that Retina Display is Apple's coined moniker for a 5K resolution screen. According to the outlet, the notion was challenged by DisplayMate Technologies president Raymond Soneira, who claimed that the human retina takes about a minimum vision of 447 pixels per inch -- citing that not all Retina-sporting products is at par with such resolution.

Of course, it is known that Tim Cook's company has produced Retina Displays for the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPod Touch, iPad, iPad Air, iPad Mini, MacBook Pro and iMac. Only Air seems to be out of the picture, which reportedly bothered those eyeing the product for so long.

As for the new 12-inch Macbook Air's price, Macworld cited KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo's earlier prediction which suggested that the product may retail below present-day Mac laptops.

Now that Apple has got its hands on the much-awaited Intel M Core chips, will the Retina-packed Macbook Air finally grace the holidays?