MacBook Air Retina 2015: Ultra-slim notebook without MagSafe and USB ports?

Apple's current 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air notebooks[Photo credit: Apple]

Rumor mills are now painting an image of a port-less ultra-thin version MacBook Air Retina. Christian Post reported that Apple is on the move for a powerful new notebook offering, and an extreme makeover is all set for the job. The Cupertino-based company is said to be throwing away USB ports and MagSafe connectors to make an insanely slim and urbane laptop, which now reportedly earned it the most fitting name, "MacBook Stealth."

According to 9to5 Mac, the MacBook Air Retina will be an inch smaller than the current flagship but it will be way superior in the display department for its higher resolution. It will then be made thinner, lighter and more battery-friendly. Christian Post added that Apple is working to have the screen a bit larger and so the MacBook Air may also get rid of the bezels. 

Also, speculations from KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo are still major parts of people's expectations. Kuo forecasted last year that the 12-inch notebook will leave out the fan, and that the trackpad would no longer require users to click. The keys will be placed closer together and the SD Card slot, dual USB ports, MagSafe power connector and Thunderbolt will all be substituted with a single USB 3.1 Type-C connector located on the left side of the device. Christian Post then added that the standard headphone jack and dual-microphones will still be sitting on the right panel and will not be taken out. 

Apple Insider smells something fishy about the removal of MagSafe and Thunderbolt. The former has its benefits, both for Apple and the users. The company can have it as a profitable patent-protected licensing business while users are free from worries about tripping up on cords. The latter, which made its debut on the MacBook Pro almost four years ago, had Apple and Intel working vehemently to get it espoused.

Meanwhile, reports are differing when it comes to the release date. Some say it will be out this year. Others believe that Apple is still intensely working on it.