Retailer Best Buy, which has been holding sales on the current models of the MacBook family, has now listed all models of 12-inch Retina MacBook as "discontinued," which is a likely sign that the model, which is now just over one year old, is about to get a refresh. Some other retailers have sold out on several configurations with no plans to replenish the line, while some others that still have stock, such as B&H Photo and MacMall, have dropped prices in a clear event to
move existing inventory. Current rumors project the MacBook line to move up to more current processors, and that the MacBook Air line will be
folded in under the "MacBook" moniker.
Due to the nature of rumors, it is unclear exactly how this would come about, but the most likely scenario is that the MacBook Air 11-inch would be discontinued, and the 13-inch MacBook Air would become a 13-inch (or possibly 14-inch) MacBook model with a Retina display. Due to a potentially new hinge design, the overall thickness of the MacBook models may be even further reduced, with some hope that the entry-level model's price will be reduced to match the just-under-$1,000 cost of the 11-inch MacBook Air. It is also possible that Apple will issue one last speed-bumped version of the MacBook Air before ending the line next year.
It is thought that the MacBook Pro line will also see new models, though these may come a bit later and be announced at or just before the Worldwide Developers Conference, planned for early June. Rumors have the MacBook Pro line getting thinner than the present model, but not to the level of the MacBooks. In addition, it is hoped that (like the MacBooks) the MBPs will move up to the "Skylake" class of processors and graphic chipsets, and (unlike the MacBook line) gain the
combined USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 connector(s) that offer either USB-C speeds or TB3 speeds depending on the cable used.
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