2018 MacBook Air: These Specs Set For Upgrade

With another 2018 MacBook announcement due on October 30, what's on the cutting block for the current MacBook Air?

At only $999, the MacBook Air...is a true steal (this sentence may contain traces of irony).

--Apple MacBook Air 13 2017 Laptop (1.8 GHz) Review, Notebookcheck.net, June 23, 2017

Sarcasm aside, here are the antiquated specs in the current MBA and what is available for Apple to tap for a new low-cost MacBook.

Processor:

• Current $999 MacBook Air (MBA): Intel Core i5-5350U, 5th generation "Broadwell" processor (three processor generations behind Touch Bar MacBook Pro).
• New*: Intel 7th and/or 8th generation processors.

Graphics:

• Current MBA: Intel HD Graphics 6000, "Broadwell" GPU introduced back in early 2015.
• New: Possibly Intel Graphics 620 or later. The 620 is used in mainstream Intel 7th and 8th generation processor-based PC laptops.

Memory:

• Current MBA: 1600MHz LPDDR3 memory
• New: faster LPDDR3 memory

Display: 

• Current MBA: thick bezel around low-resolution TN panel -- 1,440 x 900 pixel resolution, 128 pixels per inch.
• New: thinner bezel with IPS panel and Retina resolution (approx. 226 pixels per inch).

Storage:

• Current MBA: PCIe-based SSD matched with old Broadwell processor (sluggish write performance compared to newer MacBooks)
• New: PCIe-based SSD matched with newer processor.

Audio:

• Current: stereo speakers
• New: upgraded speakers

Connectors / Ports / Slots:

• Current MBA: USB 3.0 (2), ThunderBolt 2, SDXC card slot, MagSafe 2
• New: USB Type C (possibly Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.1 Gen 2)

Weight: 

• Current MBA:  2.96 pounds.
• New: roughly the same.

Conclusion:

As I've written before, with the right mix of price and specs Apple would likely have a hit on its hands. MacBooks are still revered around the world and a Retina-class MacBook that is within the reach of the average consumer should have a lot of pent-up demand.

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NOTES:

*Anything designated as "new" above is speculation. Basically technologies that are available to Apple as of October 2018.