Given that the company said “Apple Watch will be available in early 2015 starting at $349,” it is no great leap to predict that Cupertino’s next wearable will ship by the end of March. However, the skuttle butt from everyone’s favorite Apple rumorologist indicates the 12-inch MacBook Air with Retina Display will also ship in “early 2015.”
Is that even credible?
While Apple has previously released updated MacBooks during the first quarter, it’s been awhile since the company shipped an all-new Macintosh during the dark, dark days of Winter.
Regardless, because KGI Securities analyst Ming-chi Kuo is saying it, MacRumors and a host of others are repeating it — the Apple Watch and perhaps even the 12-inch MacBook Air with Retina Display will ship in early 2015. For all intents and purposes, that means before the end of March, though one suspects “early 2015” could be anytime before Summer (aka June 20).
“Kuo predicts that Apple will ship 2.8 million Apple Watch units in Q1 2015, and his estimate for a March launch falls in line with previous reports,” writes MacRumors’ scribe Richard Padilla. “Kuo’s estimate for a Q1 2015 launch of the new 12-inch MacBook Air falls in line with a report earlier this month which stated that Apple supplier Quanta Computer was ramping up production of the notebook for a release this quarter.”
See also: Spy Photos: 12-inch MacBook Air Spotted
Additionally, another factor that mitigates in favor of first quarter 12-inch MacBook Air with Retina Display launch is Apple wanted to ship this product last Fall. That was quashed by the simple fact that Intel couldn’t deliver the new chips, codenamed Broadwell, in quantity until the end of last year.
So, Apple Watch coming soon? Two thumbs up from Tapscape. However, we’re still a little skeptical of a 12-inch MacBook Air with Retina Display arriving until the second quarter…
What’s your take?