Apple has just released a cheaper MacBook Air but the expectation is that we can still expect a more fully upgraded MacBook Air with retina display later in the year. 

If Apple pushes ahead with this, it will satisfy fans who have long awaited a higher pixel density display on their MacBook Air.

At the moment, we can only speculate as to what shape the device will actually take but the expectation is that it will have a 12-inch screen with a 2732x1536 resolution. That prediction comes from Canalys analyst Daniel Matte.

That's a significant scale up from the 1366x1536 resolution of the current MacBook Air and if the rumor is true, it would bring the MacBook Air with retina up to the 264ppi density of the current iPad Air.

Stuff.tv reports that the Retina MacBook Air may also come without a fan, making it much, much quieter and also shaving further millimetres off the profile and potentially saving on the battery life in the process.  

The website also details previous reports by Chinese Weiphone about a new buttonless trackpad that will use multiple sensors to detect the clicking action.  

There is no confirmation yet as to when the MacBook Air is landing but we can expect it before the end of the year.  

It's also likely that it will be some time before Apple follows up the 12-inch Retina MacBook Air with 11-inch and 13-inch versions.