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Some Apple rumours seem to have more credence than others and, while very intriguing, this latest whisper regarding the forthcoming MacBook Air with Retina Display stretches the suspension of disbelief somewhat.
Taiwanese blog AppleCorner (via AppleInsider) claims the 12-inch MacBook Air refresh could also feature a Touch ID fingerprint sensor, a la the recent iPhone and iPad launches.
The report, citing those infamous ‘supply chain sources,’ claims the security sensor could sit above the trackpad on the revamped Air model, expected to sandwich the firm’s current 11- and 13-inch notebooks.
Moreover, Apple may also update its Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad accessories in order to incorporate Touch ID.
The rumoured plans will are said to tie in with a desire to expand the Apple Pay platform to enable payments on the web.
As of right now, in the United States, iPhone owners are able today for goods in store via the device’s built-in NFC chip or when purchasing content from the App Store.
While this may be a boon for Apple and make life easier for Apple Pay consumers in the long run, it would be surprising to see Apple integrate the feature at this juncture.
With a release believed to be coming as soon as this month and given the intensity of the speculation surrounding this product, it seems unlikely this information would have remained under the radar until now.
The long awaited 12-inch MacBook Air is expected to feature Intel’s new low-powered Broadwell processors, allowing Apple to incorporate a fanless design for the first time.
Read more: What is Apple Pay? A guide to mobile payments
Recent rumours have also suggested the device will also have just a single USB port, which’ll make use of the firm’s reversible Type C USB technology.
Would you like to see Touch ID within your next MacBook? Have you got your sights set on the forthcoming 12-inch model? Let us know your thoughts below.
