Apple to Debut Low-Cost MacBook Air With Retina Display, Revamped Pro-Focused Mac Mini in 2018 - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple to Debut Low-Cost MacBook Air With Retina Display, Revamped Pro-Focused Mac Mini in 2018

Apple is working on several new products for its Mac lineup, including a new low-cost MacBook Air and a Pro-focused Mac mini, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

The upcoming low-cost MacBook Air will be similar in design to the current MacBook Air, but with slimmer bezels around the display. It will continue to be sized around 13 inches, and it will feature a Retina display.

macbook air
We've heard multiple rumors about the upcoming low-cost notebook, but it has been unclear whether it is part of the MacBook family or if it will be branded as a MacBook Air. Today's report makes it clear that the new machine is going to be positioned as a MacBook Air upgrade, aimed at students and schools with a lower price tag than MacBooks in the MacBook family.

Apple is continuing to make new MacBook models as well, and it's not yet clear how the company will differentiate the new MacBook Air from the MacBook. Right now, the MacBook's higher price tag, slimmer body, and Retina display set it apart from the MacBook Air.

Apple is also said to be working on an upgrade to the Mac mini, which has not seen an update since October 2014. Little detail is available about the upcoming machine, but it is said to be focused on pro users with new storage and processor options that are likely to make it more expensive than previous Mac mini products.

mac mini 2014 gallery 1
2017 rumors suggested Apple was working on a Mac mini that "won't be so mini anymore," which would be in line with a machine that has more powerful, less compact components.

Bloomberg suggests Apple could potentially be planning to introduce the new Macs in October, following a September event that will see the launch of new iPhones and new Apple Watch models.

New iPad Pro models with Face ID are also in the works, but it is not clear if these will debut in September or October.

Related Roundups: MacBook Air, Mac mini
Related Forums: MacBook Air, Mac mini

Popular Stories

Mac mini vs Studio Feature Sans Text 1

Apple Caught Off Guard by AI Demand for Mac Mini and Mac Studio

Sunday August 30, 2026 8:52 am PDT by
Apple's unusually timed announcement of new Mac mini and Mac Studio models this week was driven by unexpectedly strong enterprise appetite for AI hardware, according to The Information. Apple normally releases new Mac models in the autumn, closer to October or November, making this week's announcement unusually early, falling just before the anticipated arrival of new iPhone models. The...
mac mini orange

Apple Announces New Mac Mini With M6 and M5 Pro Chips and More

Tuesday August 25, 2026 6:11 am PDT by
Apple today announced the next-generation Mac mini, which can be configured with an all-new M6 chip or the M5 Pro chip released earlier this year. The M6 chip is equipped with a 12-core CPU and a 12-core GPU, up from a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU in the M5 chip. In addition, the M6 chip features the first-ever dual Neural Engine with two 16-core engines, up from one in previous chips. The M6 ...
Apple New Macs and Polishing Cloth

New Macs and More: Here's Everything Apple Announced Today

Tuesday August 25, 2026 9:10 am PDT by
Apple today unveiled a new Mac mini with M6 and M5 Pro chip options, a new Mac Studio with M5 Max and M5 Ultra chip options, a new version of the Polishing Cloth with a lower price, and updated Magic Keyboards for Macs. Subscribe to MacRumors on YouTube Here are all of the new products that Apple announced today: Apple Announces New Mac Mini With M6 and M5 Pro Chips and More Apple Unveils...

Top Rated Comments

HobeSoundDarryl Avatar
105 months ago
Mac-oriented rumors are soooooooooo welcomed! More, more more! Make us BELIEVE!

Edit: Because a few guys seem to be reading this as a jab at MacRumors, let me clarify it is NOT. It is excitement that maybe Apple is doing something to generate some new Mac rumors. IMO, MacRumors is great. And I'm glad to see something maybe happening on the Mac side of Apple. "More, more, more!" Apple. "Make us BELIEVE!" Apple.
Score: 90 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jfrancis04 Avatar
105 months ago
Please no butterfly keyboard. Please no butterfly keyboard. Please no...
Score: 67 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jetjaguar Avatar
105 months ago
Will be nice for all those mac mini owners who want to finally upgrade.
Score: 56 Votes (Like | Disagree)
105 months ago
A pro-focused Mac mini would be just perfect for me. Hopefully there is something for the lower end as well.
Score: 52 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LeeW Avatar
105 months ago
Mac Mini Pro... Bring it, my wallet is open.
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
105 months ago
As my internet friends like to say, The new Mac mini is almost certainly coming...
Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors