New From Apple

Apple will release a new low-cost laptop and a professional-

focused upgrade to the Mac mini desktop later this year,

ending a drought of Mac computers that has limited sales

of the company’s longest-running line of devices, according

to people familiar with the plans.

The new laptop will look similar to the current MacBook Air,

but will include thinner bezels around the screen. The display,

which will remain about 13-inches, will be a higher-resolution

"Retina" version that Apple uses on other products, the people

said. They asked not to be identified discussing products still

in development. Apple spokesman Bill Evans declined to

Comment.

The current MacBook Air, which costs $1,000, remains Apple’s

only laptop without a high-resolution screen. The MacBook Air

was last updated with a faster processor option last year, but

hasn’t seen a major overhaul in several years. The 12-inch

MacBook launched in 2015 was seen as a replacement to the

MacBook Air, but its $1,300 starting price put it out of reach for

some consumers. The new MacBook Air will be geared toward

consumers looking for a cheaper Apple computer, but also

schools that often buy laptops in bulk.

When Apple releases new Macs in the fall, it often does so in

October, following the launch of new iPhones. The company is

planning to debut three new iPhones,