Apple's contract manufacturing partners have begun sending the Mac maker new-style metal-clad MacBooks, it has been claimed.

Citigroup analyst Richard Gardner told investors this week that he has confirmed that the new machines, which are thought to bring MacBook Air and MacBook Pro aluminium styling to the thus-far plastic covered MacBook line, are now pouring off the production lines.

That surely points to a near-term launch. Perhaps not coincidentally, Apple Expo kicks off in Paris tomorrow.

The new machines sport a “very thin aluminum casing, an LED-backlit display and an aggressive entry-level price point”, Gardner wrote.