A few weeks back, details regarding Intel’s upcoming Skylake processors were revealed with promises including improved low power performance, improved battery life, and faster integrated graphics. At the time, the information was somewhat vague, only detailing the year-over-year advancements and performance improvements from Broadwell to Skylake chips. Today, however, FanlessTech has given us a more detailed look at the specifications of the Skylake U-Series of processors.
The first thing to note is that Intel has streamlined Skylake-U over Broadwell-U. With Skylake-U, there will be one i7, one i5, one i3, one Pentium, and two Celerons available, not including vPro chips. Skylake-U chips are expected to be used in MacBook Air models, with their strong combination of battery life and performance.
Specifically, the 2.3GHz i5 and 2.4GHz i5 seemed destined for the lower-tier MacBook Air variants. The 2.5GHz i7 and 2.6GHz i7 both seem like a good fit for the more expensive models. All of the Skylake-U chips offer Intel 520 HD Graphics.
As detailed a few weeks ago, Intel’s Skylake-U chips are expected to be 10% faster than the previous generation Broadwell chips, with 34% faster graphics. The chips are also expected to offer up to 1.4 hours longer battery life.
At this point it’s still unclear as to when Intel will make the MacBook Air-destined Skylake-U chips available, but given the amount of leaked info we’ve seen lately regarding the series, an official announcement doesn’t seem to be too far off. Yesterday, Intel revealed Mac Pro-class Xeon laptop processors, as well.
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C’mon Skylake-H?
Apple should slap these chips inside the MacBooks too. I guess will be the last update to the Airs also.
give it the Retina treatment too and I’m buying one (but I know this isn’t happening, with the MacBook out and about). I had a 2011 MBA and loved it in all (other) respects. Now I have a 2013 rMBP which has a lovely screen and everything is generally top notch, except that it’s a bit heavy for everyday carrying (I say as I remember my Windoze laptops of the past… 15 inches, 2.5+ kg … God, they were horrible)
What the heck does “The first thing to note is that Intel has streamlined Skylake-U over Broadwell-U” even mean?
Streamlined means there will be fewer versions: one i7, one i5, etc, instead of multiple i7, multiple i5, etc.
10% faster, 34% faster graphics, and 1.4 more hours of battery? If that’s true, that would be insane.
I’m still within my 14 days on a fully upgraded top end 2.2ghz i7 Air purchase. I can’t tell from the article if that processor is getting replaced soon, maybe at the September event? My old Air is fine for the next month or so. Anyone here think I should return and wait?
The gains between what you have and the new CPU models is very small. If the extra battery life is meaningful to you, perhaps you should return. Otherwise, it will be difficult to see the difference in performance.
Thanks for talking me down off the ledge :)
I got a question – will Apple release new MacBook anytime this year or beginning of 2016?
“All of the Skylake-U chips offer Intel 520 HD Graphics.” Which is the successor of the HD5500, what was never featured in MacBook Airs…
I would be surprised if we saw this CPUs in the next generetaion of Airs.
Unfortunately, I think a new Macbook with a new motherboard (thunderbolt-3-usb-c, a Skylake socket, DDR4) will have to wait until 2016.. Pity.
The current Macbook would have been amazing in mid-late 2014, and it was clearly ready to go except for the broadwell delay (Core M was available but Apple may not have trusted the first wave)..
Macbook sales must be abysmal right now … Prospective customers (like me) are waiting for version 2