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Apple hasn’t done much with its ultra-thin MacBook Air in recent years, opting to slim down some of its other offerings instead. But the computer is reasonably popular, and according to Apple analyst KGI Securities (via 9to5Mac), the company is reportedly planning to release a cheaper model at some point in the second quarter of 2018. According to 9to5Mac, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects that Apple will release a 13-inch MacBook Air “with a lower price tag,” later this year, and that the lower price could help boost Apple’s laptop sales. While the line celebrates its tenth year in 2018, the line has largely only received incremental updates, the last of which came last summer, when Apple updated it with a faster 1.8GHz Intel processor. Apple currently sells the MacBook Air for $999. The report also says that Apple will likely refresh its AirPods, and that the HomePod has been met with “mediocre” demand. Theverge

LG is announcing its refreshed range of its thin and light Gram laptops today, ahead of CES next month. LG is introducing three refreshed versions of the Gram, in 13.3-, 14-, and 15-inch models. The 2018 Gram laptops include Intel’s 8th-generation Core i5 and i7 processors, SSD storage, and an option for a second SSD drive. LG’s Gram laptops have always been very thin and light, and this year’s models maintain just over two pounds for the 13.3- and 14-inch models, and 2.4 pounds for the larger 15-inch version. While LG claimed its Gram 14 laptop had 23 hours of battery life earlier this year, the test was based on a decade-old benchmark. LG is making bold battery life promises again for the 2018 models, but this time the company is using the 2014 version of MobileMark for its battery estimates. LG is claiming that the 13.3-inch model will last up to 22.5 hours, with the 14-inch at 21.5 hours, and the 15-inch version at 19 hours. The batteries have also been increased to 72Wh, up f...

Samsung refreshed its Notebook 9 series of laptops earlier this year, and the company is getting ready to do the same for 2018. Samsung is unveiling three new models today, instead of waiting for CES next month where we typically see a number of new laptops. The first is Samsung’s Notebook 9 Pen, and perhaps the most interesting of the trio. It’s a 13.3-inch 2-in-1 notebook, and as the name suggests the Notebook 9 Pen includes an integrated S Pen, much like the Notebook 9 Pro introduced in May. Samsung is updating the Notebook 9 Pen to include Intel’s 8th-generation Core i7 processors, up to 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage. The display resolution is 1920 x 1080, with a disappointing lack of a higher resolution option. Much like Lenovo’s Yoga tablets, Samsung’s Notebook 9 Pen will flip around into various modes for tablet or drawing use. Samsung has squeezed in a HDMI port, a single USB-C port, and a regular USB port, alongside microSD storage and a Windows Hello camera to si...