Apple MacBooks to embrace new CPUs, big RAM boost, analyst says
The 12-inch MacBook along with the 13- and 15-inch Pro laptops will get tuneups, and a special version of the 15-inch model is on the way too, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts.
Apple's newly refreshed laptop line may be a hit in stores, but many are still concerned that the MacBook Pros aren't quite "pro" enough.
The electronics giant may assuage some of those concerns later this year, predicts KGI Securities analyst and Apple Nostradamus Ming-Chi Kuo.
Kuo, who last year correctly anticipated that Apple would overhaul the MacBook Pro line to include a touchscreen in place of function keys, said the company will release a 15-inch MacBook equipped with 32GB of RAM in the fourth quarter, MacRumors reported Monday.
This appears to be separate to a refreshment for 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pros, which he said will start offering Intel's new Kaby Lake processors in the third quarter. In the second quarter, Kuo predicts, Apple will update its 12-inch MacBook line with the new processors , as well as a 16GB RAM option. (They currently offer 8GB.)
The new processors could potentially address one criticism some had of the new MacBook Pros: their not-much-improved battery life. The 32GB RAM MacBook, which Kuo said will be the "most significantly redesigned product this year," is likely geared toward art professionals, who need RAM for video, audio and photo editing.
While Apple relies heavily on its iPhones for its revenue, Apple's computers are the heart and origin of the company. Apple's reputation is especially renowned among creative professionals, who are willing to pay the steep price for Macs and MacBooks but also expect Apple to keep up with the competition on the basics like battery life.
Kuo has an impressive record when it comes to Apple predictions. Other than his 2016 MacBook Pro redesign, his correct predictions have included the Apple Watch 2 and its onboard GPS, as well as the 2016 release of a 4-inch iPhone, which became the SE.
Apple did not respond to a request for comment.
Batteries Not Included: The CNET team shares experiences that remind us why tech stuff is cool. Take a look here.
CNET Magazine: Check out a sampling of the stories you'll find in CNET's newsstand edition, right here.