Apple May Still Be Planning to Reintroduce 12-Inch MacBook

[StellarVixen]

Apple discontinued after 2 years. 2 years!!

2 main reasons why MacBook was pretty much dead on arrival: had only one port, which was stupid, artificial limitation and hardware inside was just not meant to be inside such thin case, Intel chip inside didn’t have any room to breathe.

With Apple Silicon things might be a bit better, but still I think it needs more than 1 port, which was, again, ridiculous decision, whoever in Apple thought that was a good idea must have been high on something.

 

[sam_dean]

Put a 2023 A17 Bionic 3nm SoC in it!

 

[arvinsim]

This will cannibalize the iPad even more.

 

[Realityck]

Apple may be continuing its plans to bring back the 12-inch MacBook, a sketchy rumor shared on the Korean blog Naver claims.

Awhile back a 12” MacBook would have had less performance, less resolution. Today with AS Soc’s Apple can make a smaller laptop that is still very powerful.

 

[Rychiar]

still think there should only be a MacBook and a MacBook Pro at various specs

 

[dmcgoy]

No one is going to buy it for $1300 in 2024. It sold so poorly in 2015 that Apple discontinued after 2 years. 2 years!!

A $599 iPad Air M1 can easily replace it as a media device that can occasionally edit an Excel and write an email. In fact, an iPad can do a lot more than a 12" Macbook can.

iPad is a stupid piece of junk from my perspective. I can't install R/Rstudio and do real work on an iPad! An iPad with the keyboard weighs MORE than the MacBook! The iPad is only for drawing and watching Netflix....so good for my kids. But worthless for me.

The MacBook 12 had a crap keyboard and a wildly inadequate processor. I still love it because it is an ultraportable. I bike to work and I notice the pound! I notice the pound when I travel!

I think Apple should make a MacBook Pro 12'' optimized for weight.

 

[GMShadow]

Looking at how it could be

12" MacBook Air
13" MacBook Air
14" MacBook Pro
15" MacBook
16" MacBook Pro

It might be a *bit* crowded but I think it could work - as others are noting, Apple has had more 'bloated' lineups than this previously.

 

[timmodugdale]

I'm OK with a 12" form factor, but to call it a MacBook is silly in that there would be little distinction between MacBook Air and this MacBook. Just introduce a 12" (or smaller) MacBook Air with an M1, maybe, if it would reduce the cost (maybe $899). This could be the low-end, lightweight laptop in the ecosystem. Apple should work harder to clean up its product line, IMHO, because the distinctions between products are getting ridiculous.

 

[blazerunner]

Don't bring it back. It's been replaced by iPad Air, iPad Pro, and Macbook Air. It sold so poorly that it only lasted 2 years on the market. It's an even worse value proposition today because other devices in Apple's lineup has gotten better and could easily replace its niche.

Make a Macbook SE using the M1 Air instead. Sell this Macbook SE for $799 or $850. We don't need a 12" Macbook selling for $1300 in 2024.

All those tablets are useless. They're just glorified phones. An ultraportable laptop like a 12" MacBook that can get some Adobe Creative Suit work done would make a lot of sense to me.

 

[dmcgoy]

I'm OK with a 12" form factor, but to call it a MacBook is silly in that there would be little distinction between MacBook Air and this MacBook. Just introduce a 12" (or smaller) MacBook Air with an M1, maybe, if it would reduce the cost (maybe $899). This could be the low-end, lightweight laptop in the ecosystem. Apple should work harder to clean up its product line, IMHO, because the distinctions between products are getting ridiculous.

I think it should be a 12'' Pro. That would make more sense. More spacing and makes clear it's not a bargain computer. Because I doubt making a screen 1 inch smaller and removing some aluminum and battery cells is an appreciable manufacturing cost.

 

[Dan Pandrea]

There's a few problems with a new 12" MacBook. The first one is it would be smaller and lighter than a MacBook Air, which defeats the purpose of the latter. Normally the 12" MacBook should replace the old M1 MacBook Air and slash $100 just like the new Mac Mini did. The problem with this is both the old M1 MacBook Air and the current Mac mini are cheaper to manufacture than a brand new product.

 

[tonie walker]

Macbook Mini! - i bet no jelly scrolling on this

 

[timmodugdale]

I think it should be a 12'' Pro. That would make more sense. More spacing and makes clear it's not a bargain computer. Because I doubt making a screen 1 inch smaller and removing some aluminum and battery cells is an appreciable manufacturing cost.

It would be good to get a better sense of WHO wants this, to be sure. My post assumed that person was someone who wanted a lightweight, cheap laptop, and didn't care a whole lot about power. I think Apple assumes EVERYONE needs a super-powerful computer. Students using it for writing a paper using Microsoft Word don't need power. They need portability and lower prices. Even a $999 would be a good entry point price.

 

[code-m]

I loved the 12" MacBook! Great device for simple tasks and travel.

This would be the strangest naming move by Apple. With the redesigned M2 MBA that resembles the MBP one would have thought it would be a good time to just call it the MB and then reintroduce the M# MBA 12” in a wedge form factor. The present rumour would make a MB in a wedge and then the Air in a similar boxy design as the Pro.

Would be nice to just have two display size wedge shaped MBA 12” and 14” and two MB boxy shaped display sizes 13” and 15” while the Pro can complete it with a 14” and 16”.

 

[xxray]

I’m not against this, but wow is the Apple product lineup getting messy if it’s true. This would be competing with the M2 MacBook Air, M1 MacBook Air, 13” MacBook Pro, 11” iPad Pro, and iPad Air. Hell, maybe even the iPad 10th gen.

 

[mashinhead]

Dept of redundancy department

 

[_92dopal]

Personally I think the lineup is making more sense than it has done for years. I think if they increase the screen size on the existing 12 inch chassis size the 12 inch MacBook becomes very compelling. Almost the same screen real estate as the old 13 inch air.

MB 12.6

MBA 13.6
MBA 15.6

MBP 14.2
MBP 16.2

 

[surfzen21]

I agree with everyone above who said if they do this it should have the M1 and be priced around $900. The M1 is still plenty powerful, expecially for a ultra compact laptop. Dare I say it would blow away anything else in the ultra category.

 

[ProcessorSolderedToMB]

Don't bring it back. It's been replaced by iPad Air, iPad Pro, and Macbook Air. It sold so poorly that it only lasted 2 years on the market. It's an even worse value proposition today because other devices in Apple's lineup has gotten better and could easily replace its niche.

Make a Macbook SE using the M1 Air instead. Sell this Macbook SE for $799 or $850. We don't need a 12" Macbook selling for $1300 in 2024.

How can you be certain that the poor sales are due to lack of demand for such a device and not due keyboard, battery and processor issues that were specific to that time period? I don't believe you can.

As well, how long did they sell the 11 inch MacBook Air?

There is demand for a truly ultra portable Mac. The 2.6lb 13 inch MacBook Air is quite nice and light, but it's not at the floor of how thin a Mac could be.

Apple offering laptops at 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 inches doesn't sound bad to me.

 

[visualseed]

Even with a hobbled M1 in the old case, butterfly keyboard, VGA webcam, and all, I would still buy it. My 2017 is still supported by Ventura I and I still use it all the time. I suspect next year it ages out like the 2015 and 2016.

 

[Freida]

the lineup is getting messier and messier

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Why would anybody need that?

You really need that ONE inch less than the 13-inch MacBook Air?

That ONE inch makes the difference between too big and just right for some people?

1” less screen? Meh.

Nearly 1 pound less weight? Now ya got something.

 

[Mr. Dee]

I know this is a rumor, but its starting to sound like Apple is stretching itself too thin.

 

[dmcgoy]

It would be good to get a better sense of WHO wants this, to be sure. My post assumed that person was someone who wanted a lightweight, cheap laptop, and didn't care a whole lot about power. I think Apple assumes EVERYONE needs a super-powerful computer. Students using it for writing a paper using Microsoft Word don't need power. They need portability and lower prices. Even a $999 would be a good entry point price.

Sure - I think most people assume this is a bargain computer. But that makes little sense to me. Volume* reduces costs....and *most* people would pick a slightly more expensive computer with a longer battery life and a bigger screen.

Smaller is more niche - hence I think Apple should just make this a Pro computer.

* Unless Apple is going to re-spin up the old CNC machines making the MacBook 12'' casing, they will have to make a new production line. Which is $$$.

 

[Wombat-man]

Why would anybody need that?

You really need that ONE inch less than the 13-inch MacBook Air?

That ONE inch makes the difference between too big and just right for some people?

I‘ll never understand that, I almost find steps of two inches between models too small. 🤷‍♂️

The substantial weight difference is the main thing for me - still a very happy Macbook 12" user (along with a bunch of other Macs). The fact that the size difference isn't so much is actually a plus.