Any 12" Macbook users holding out for an ARM Macbook?

[Blueberry123]

The current MBA is fine, except it is just too heavy to carry around comfortably, not really in the class of ultra-portables. If they can get the weight down to close to 2lbs, then the lineup would look much better, and there would be more legitimate separation between that and the MBP.

I want to buy a new macbook to replace my 2013 11 8gb Air, which has been great for the last 7 years. I tried the new M1 13 Air, liked everything about it, apart from the extra size and weight, especially the taller height of the screen.

I just love using an ultraportable, which sadly the M1 13 Air is not. So I hope Apple decides to make a smaller form factor again. The Apple silicon is perfect for the quiet fanless design of the 12 Macbook.

Maybe a redesigned M2 13 Air with smaller bezels will become the new ultraportable in the lineup.

 

[halledise]

Just a quick post to see what 12" Macbook users' thoughts are since Apple's WWDC event? I imagine that a lot of people still using a Macbook are doing so because they love the silent, ultra-lightweight form, and have been waiting for three years for a refresh of some sort. Or perhaps have been deliberating over reluctantly jumping to the Air or 13" MBP?

I own a 2017 12" Macbook and love it to bits, but of course it's aging and there's definite limiting factors (butterfly keyboard, single 10gbps port, etc). I think I'm going to hold out a bit longer and hopefully the first ARM Macbook will be lighter and run cooler than the current Air and 13" MBP, and even if it's not quite as silent/light as the 12" Macbook I think I'll make the jump. That's assuming that they don't refresh the 12" Macbook with an ARM version, which of course would be amazing.

Anyone else in the same boat?

I have a 1.3 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5 (2017) 12" MacBook - same as yours.
I had the keyboard and upper case replaced for free under Apple's repair program.
bought an M1 MBAir to try whilst the repair was being done - didn't like it by comparison though it did give me some hands on with Big Sur.
sent it back to Apple when my MB repair was complete.
did an erase and fresh install of Big Sur on my 12" MB which now runs like a rocket.
nothing quite like the smaller form factor and lighter weight.

i guess ultimately it all comes down to what work you do on your Mac.
light weight stuff the 12" is fine but for more heavy intensive apps you can't go past an M1

 

[halledise]

I've tried the new M1 MacBook Air, lovely laptop, fast, touch-id, etc, everything good that has been said about it. I was going to pass my MacBook to my wife, but swapping between the two, I realised that the smaller lighter MacBook is so much better for my use, lite browsing, emails etc on the sofa or dining table. I have my Mac mini and dual monitors for work. It is going back to Apple and I wait for an M1 12" light laptop. I haven't seen any MacBook's on Apple Refurb (UK) for a while now or else I would get another. As others have said, I see no difference between the M1 Air and the M1 Pro.

refurb.me have them in spades though that is the US site.

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[essential]

Bloomberg: Apple Working on 'Thinner and Lighter' High-End MacBook Air With MagSafe, Could Launch in Second Half of 2021

Apple is working on a "thinner and lighter" version of the MacBook Air that the company plans to release during the second half of this year...

www.macrumors.com

"It will include Apple's MagSafe charging technology and a next-generation version of the company's in-house Mac processors. Apple has discussed making the laptop smaller by shrinking the border around the screen, which will remain 13-inches. The current model weighs 2.8 pounds and is just over half an inch at its thickest point."

I think this will be as I mentioned in prior posts. Shrunk bezels, 13" screen ... we might not be getting another 12", but this will get close to being a 12" in size with no bezels allowing for a larger screen in a similar footprint (even if the body is slightly large to fit the 13" screen).

The article says it'll have MagSafe and a pair of USB 4's and mini-LED ... so the only questions left will be webcam and keyboard. Will they force a 720p webcam in there because of thinness requirements, and will they force a new gen butterfly keyboard for thinness instead of giving us a magic keyboard.

Hopefully it's a true ultraportable (around 2lbs). If it comes with a 1080p (hopefully FaceID capable) webcam and a magic keyboard, along with Mini-LED, two USB 4's ... this could be an amazing machine. The article says, "'Thinner and Lighter' High-End MacBook Air" and the 12" was at least priced as a high-end machine, so I believe this will be it's successor.

 

[Dhonk]

I have a 2017/2018 MB 12” and love the keyboard. Picked up a 2019 16” MBP and hate the keyboard. I don’t know why this keyboard is rated so well. I wish the keyboard didn’t have massive speakers on each side...wasted space.

 

[Dhonk]

Has anyone found a good comparison or review directly looking at the 13” air from a 12”MB user’s perspective?

 

[radiologyman]

Has anyone found a good comparison or review directly looking at the 13” air from a 12”MB user’s perspective?

Not a good review but FWIW I own both and had MB12s since 2015. MBA does not come close in ergonomics to MB 12, just too big and too heavy. We need a true MB12 successor!

 

[playtech1]

Not a good review but FWIW I own both and had MB12s since 2015. MBA does not come close in ergonomics to MB 12, just too big and too heavy. We need a true MB12 successor!

I also have both and find that the M1 MBA is an amazing machine, but the size is essentially in the same ballpark as the very first MacBook Air from 2008. It's a great size for many purposes, but it is noticeably bigger and heavier than the 12 inch.

I will say that the M1 MBA is sufficiently superior in just about every other respect that it is clearly the better option unless and until Apple releases a true 12 inch MB successor.

Biggest upgrades for me are the performance and battery life, both of which are significant improvements.

 

[eyetic]

I have my MBA M1 coming next week...lets see how it compares to my 12" which I feel a lil bit outdated some times specially with some heavy excels and stuff (2015 m3 processor was not a good decision and thats my fault)

 

[EastHillWill]

Bloomberg: Apple Working on 'Thinner and Lighter' High-End MacBook Air With MagSafe, Could Launch in Second Half of 2021

Apple is working on a "thinner and lighter" version of the MacBook Air that the company plans to release during the second half of this year...

www.macrumors.com

"It will include Apple's MagSafe charging technology and a next-generation version of the company's in-house Mac processors. Apple has discussed making the laptop smaller by shrinking the border around the screen, which will remain 13-inches. The current model weighs 2.8 pounds and is just over half an inch at its thickest point."

I think this will be as I mentioned in prior posts. Shrunk bezels, 13" screen ... we might not be getting another 12", but this will get close to being a 12" in size with no bezels allowing for a larger screen in a similar footprint (even if the body is slightly large to fit the 13" screen).

The article says it'll have MagSafe and a pair of USB 4's and mini-LED ... so the only questions left will be webcam and keyboard. Will they force a 720p webcam in there because of thinness requirements, and will they force a new gen butterfly keyboard for thinness instead of giving us a magic keyboard.

Hopefully it's a true ultraportable (around 2lbs). If it comes with a 1080p (hopefully FaceID capable) webcam and a magic keyboard, along with Mini-LED, two USB 4's ... this could be an amazing machine. The article says, "'Thinner and Lighter' High-End MacBook Air" and the 12" was at least priced as a high-end machine, so I believe this will be it's successor.

I agree. Like many I was hoping for a new 12” machine, but it sounds like a smaller 13” may be it. I love my M1 MBA, but it’s a big and heavy laptop in today’s world. There is room in the lineup for a more portable machine, and I look forward to seeing what exactly we get.

 

[radiologyman]

I also have 13.3 ultraportable from HP with slim bezels, seems like Apple is going this route with MBA redesign. HP Spectre is an amazing machine with OLED screen but I wish it was smaller and lighter. It's smaller and lighter than MBA but still too heavy in comparison to MB12.

 

[Moonjumper]

Bloomberg: Apple Working on 'Thinner and Lighter' High-End MacBook Air With MagSafe, Could Launch in Second Half of 2021

Apple is working on a "thinner and lighter" version of the MacBook Air that the company plans to release during the second half of this year...

www.macrumors.com

"It will include Apple's MagSafe charging technology and a next-generation version of the company's in-house Mac processors. Apple has discussed making the laptop smaller by shrinking the border around the screen, which will remain 13-inches. The current model weighs 2.8 pounds and is just over half an inch at its thickest point."

I think this will be as I mentioned in prior posts. Shrunk bezels, 13" screen ... we might not be getting another 12", but this will get close to being a 12" in size with no bezels allowing for a larger screen in a similar footprint (even if the body is slightly large to fit the 13" screen).

The article says it'll have MagSafe and a pair of USB 4's and mini-LED ... so the only questions left will be webcam and keyboard. Will they force a 720p webcam in there because of thinness requirements, and will they force a new gen butterfly keyboard for thinness instead of giving us a magic keyboard.

Hopefully it's a true ultraportable (around 2lbs). If it comes with a 1080p (hopefully FaceID capable) webcam and a magic keyboard, along with Mini-LED, two USB 4's ... this could be an amazing machine. The article says, "'Thinner and Lighter' High-End MacBook Air" and the 12" was at least priced as a high-end machine, so I believe this will be it's successor.

I think a redesigned Air might get a smaller battery that lasts as long as we are used to with the Intel Macs. That would bring the weight down a lot, and differentiate it more from the Pro.

 

[supertiffany]

still waiting for the 12 inch form factor apple silicon macbooks

the current m1 macbook air is close to macbook pro form factor

 

[eyetic]

ok I'm just typing from the MacBook Air...got to say that the comparison in weight and size is noticeable, don't get me wrong I can get used to it but its just bigger.

The keyboard instead is gorgeous as the keys "pop" out instead of being completely flat on the Macbook 12, I must say that its pleasant for me and it feels good overall.

Speed? Well I didn't try much but it feels fast, got to say that my Macbook 12 was a 2015 M3 with 8gb ram, this one M1 / 8gb ram...so far I'm just updating it and browsing the internet feel snappier even if the connection is the same.