Apple(s aapl) revamped its MacBook Air lineup on Monday, saying that new devices will run on Intel’s(s intc) 4th-generation Core processor called Haswell. The new chips will boost battery life 40 percent, bringing the 11- and 13-inch laptops to 9 and 12 hours of run-time on a single charge.
Apple also boosted the internal storage on the 11-inch model, which now has 128 GB of flash storage for $999. For $100 more, customers can opt for a similar 13-inch MacBook Air with the same storage capacity. Both have 40 percent faster graphics and 802.11ac Wi-Fi, which increases both the range and speed of compatible networks.
Apple says the new MacBook Air models are available today, once the Apple Store re-opens. That indicates that Apple worked out a deal with Intel in advance to become one of the first customers to buy the new Haswell chip in bulk. Intel just formally announced Haswell earlier this month at the Computex event.
A “sneak peek” of the upcoming Mac Pro was also shown at WWDC. The cylindrical computer is packed with the latest tech, including a new Intel Xeon chip, faster flash storage and, thanks to dual workstation GPUs from AMD(s amd), support for multiple 4K displays.
