Tech giant Apple (AAPL) is planning to unveil updated MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models in June 2013, reports DigiTimes. According to the publication’s inside sources, Apple has already issued requests to its Taiwan-based supply chain partners to prepare to build the revised series.
DigiTimes’ sources also reveal that while the new MacBook Air models will include a new processor — most probably Intel (INTC)’s next-gen Haswell microarchitecture — the line of Apple’s ultraportable notebooks will likely retain the current industrial design:
“The sources pointed out that the MacBook Air for 2013 will feature a new processor platform, but its industrial design will not see any major changes.”
The report also notes that ultrabook manufacturers are concerned that “Apple is likely to reduce the prices for its existing MacBook Airs before the launch of the new models”. Such a move, however, would be unlike Apple’s typical upgrade strategy, considering the company rarely discounts products before they are revised.
The report also says that Apple’s MacBook shipments in 2013 will reach 17 million units, but sales may not reach a similar level.
AAPL closed Thursday’s regular trading session up $2.06, or 0.40%, at $515.06.