Apple has updated its MacBook Air and MacBook Pro ranges with the latest Intel Core processors, faster graphics and flash storage that is up to twice as fast as the previous generation.

  • 13in and 11in MacBook Airs get Ivy Bridge processors, USB 3.0 and lower price
  • MacBook Pros get USB 3.0, Ivy Bridge processors, Nvidia GeForce graphics and same pricing
macbook pro wwdc 2012

Along with announcing the jaw-dropping MacBook Pro witrh Retina Display, Apple updated its current line up of laptops, giving teh MacBook Airs and Pros a refresh making them faster and in the case of the MacBook Air, cheaper.

Apple's popular AirPort Express has also been redesigned to include features previously available only in AirPort Extreme.

"We've made the world's best portable family even better and we think users are going to love the performance advances in both the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing during teh company';s keynote address at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco this evening.

Updated MacBook Airs

Available in 11in and 13in designs, the new MacBook Air features the latest thrid generation Core i5 and Core i7 dual-core processors - code-named Ivy Bridge.

Apple said the new integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 is up to 60 percent faster.

Flash storage was increased to either 4GB or up to 8GB and the MacBook Air also now includes a FaceTime HD camera that delivers high-definition 720p video.

Apple has also added a USB port on either side of the slim laptop which support both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 devices. However the company has not done away with Thunderbolt as that port remains in place.

Battery life remains the same with the 13in promising seven hours and the 11in promising five hours life.

Updated MacBook Pros

The 13in MacBook Pro also features Intel's Core i5 or Core i7 dual-core processors up to 2.9GHz (with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.6GHz).

Meanwhile, the 15in MacBook Pro offers Intel's Core i7 quad-core processors up to 2.7 GHz (with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.7GHz) and NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M discrete graphics.

However, all of this information was leaked before the keynote speech. The new MacBook Pros also come with the dual USB ports which support USB 2.0 and 3.0 devices as well as the Thunderbolt port.

The MacBook Air and MacBook Pro ship with OS X Lion and - starting today - Apple said customers who purchase a Mac are eligible for a free copy of OS X Mountain Lion when it becomes available.

MacBook Air: Pricing & Availability

The 11in MacBook Air with a 1.7GHz processor, 4GB of memory and is available with 64GB of flash storage starting at £849 inc VAT (£707.50 ex VAT), and 128GB of flash storage starting at £929 inc VAT (£774.17 ex VAT).

The 13in MacBook Air comes with a 1.8GHz processor, 4GB of memory and is available with 128GB of flash storage starting at £999 inc VAT (£832.50 ex VAT), and 256GB of flash storage starting at £1,249 inc VAT (£1,040.83 ex VAT).

Configure-to-order options include a 2.0GHz Intel Core i7 processor, up to 8GB of 1600 MHz DDR3 onboard memory and up to 512GB flash storage.

MacBook Pros: Pricing & Availability

The 13in MacBook Pro is available with a 2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB of memory and 500GB hard drive starting at £999 inc VAT (£832.50 ex VAT), and with a 2.9 GHz dual-core Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB of memory and 750GB hard drive starting at £1,249 inc VAT (£1,040.83 ex VAT).

The 15in MacBook Pro is available with a 2.3GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor, 4GB of memory, Intel HD Graphics 4000 and NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M, and 500GB hard drive starting at £1,499 inc VAT (£1,249.17 ex VAT); and with a 2.6GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB of memory, Intel HD Graphics 4000 and NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M, and 750GB hard drive starting at £1,799 inc VAT (£1,499.17 ex VAT).

Configure-to-order options include faster quad-core processors up to 2.7GHz, additional hard drive capacity up to 1TB, up to 8GB of memory and solid state storage up to 512GB.

Apple also announced a next generation MacBook Pro just 18mm thick.