New MacBook Pro and MacBook Air may debut at WWDC

Mingchi Kuo of KGI Securities expects a slimmer MacBook Pro with longer battery life based on Intel's new Haswell processors.

Apple sold out the WWDC in record time, which begins June 10 in San Francisco

With Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) starting June 10, speculation is swirling as to what might be introduced beyond significant, Jony Ive-inspired updates to the company's mobile and desktop operating systems. According to one of more accurate analysts tracking Apple, Mingchi Kuo of KGI Securities, a slimmer MacBook Pro based on Intel's new Haswell processors and a MacBook Air with improved microphones are expected to debut at WWDC.

In a recent report, Kuo wrote:

We expect the new MacBook, featuring an upgrade to Intel's (US) Haswell processor, will be in the spotlight for Apple at the upcoming WWDC from June 10. Along with the new processor, we expect the following modifications to each product line:

Retina MacBook Pro to be slimmer slightly, along with a camera upgrade. We expect the 13" Retina MacBook Pro will have a slightly slimmer form factor for increasing its portability. Also, we think the camera spec will be upgraded from HD to full HD. This will improve Facetime and video conference quality in the high resolution Retina display.

Intel's Haswell processor, officially known as the fourth-generation Core i-series, debuted at Computex trade show in Taipei this week. Intel claims that Haswell-based laptops potentially run 50 percent longer than those using the previous generation processors. Haswell's power savings would allow for a slimmer design and increased battery life for power-hungry Retina Macs, and potentially end the life of MacBook Pro's with a standard display.

Read: How Intel's Haswell chip pinches power

In addition, Kuo said that the MacBook Air would be updated with the same dual built-in microphone design as the MacBook Pro with Retina Display. With more people talking to their laptops, from a longer distance compared to phones, more capable microphone technology is essential.