The latest report about Apple Inc.’s product roadmap suggests that the company is preparing to launch a redesigned version of the MacBook Air with a streamlined chassis and upgraded silicon.

The next-generation MacBook Air is expected to arrive either in the second half of this year or in 2022. It will retain the current model’s 13-inch display size, according to the Bloomberg report that detailed the laptop today, but will feature major changes in other areas.

Apple’s engineers reportedly plan to reduce the size of the MacBook Air by shortening the bezels around the screen. The company is also aiming to make it lighter in the process, though the report didn’t specify how. The current version comes in at about 2.8 pounds. 

Other changes that customers will notice on the MacBook Air’s exterior will be the return of Apple’s MagSafe charging port, which prevents the laptop from falling down when the power connector is pulled. MagSafe relies on a magnetic fastening mechanism that easily releases the power connector when needed. According to the report, the MacBook Air will also have two USB 4 ports for attaching other devices.

Under the hood,  the redesigned laptop is expected to feature an improved version of the Apple-developed M1 system-on-chip inside the current MacBook Air. The M1 is itself a scaled-up version of the processor that powers the iPhone. The improved version would presumably offer even better performance than the current iteration of the chip, which Apple says can run some applications up to twice as fast as a comparable Intel Crop. central processing unit.

The MacBook Air overhaul is just one in a series of big upgrades to the Mac line the company is said to be planning. It was previously reported that Apple is preparing a refresh of its MacBook Pro laptops as well as the first redesign of the iMac in close to a decade. That’s on top of the virtual reality headset and augmented reality goggles the company is believed to be developing, which are expected to become available further down the line.

The reports about the faster, more streamlined MacBooks are no doubt being closely watched by rival players in the high-end laptop segment. Among Apple’s competitors are Microsoft Corp., which has a presence in the market through its Surface Pro laptop line, and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. with its Galaxy Book product family.

Image: Apple