Apple May Still Be Planning to Reintroduce 12-Inch MacBook

[Tait]

I think people are really under estimating the size difference between the MacBook 12 and the Air 13. This is the best picture I could find that shows off the difference.

ooohhh i love this gold colour, i wish they would relaunch it... and i loved how small and light and useful it was on the road

 

[Xand&Roby]

A 12" MBP is ridiculous. A 12" is definitely a consumer model.

A 12” PowerBook has the same cpu of 15” and 17” PowerBook. I was an video editor for national broadcaster tv and sometimes used it for ad billboard rendering.
Then I used both my 12” MacBooks for that (same ad billboard in AE with 12” MB rendered in 11’, in Mac Pro 2012 I had in studio 30”).
By the way today a 12” “Pro” is overrated if you can’t cool it.

 

[Marty80]

Why do they keep getting rid of MacBooks to begin with.

 

[dandyryan]

A 12” PowerBook has the same cpu of 15” and 17” PowerBook. I was an video editor for national broadcaster tv and sometimes used it for ad billboard rendering.
Then I used both my 12” MacBooks for that (same ad billboard in AE with 12” MB rendered in 11’, in Mac Pro 2012 I had in studio 30”).
By the way today a 12” “Pro” is overrated if you can’t cool it.

The year is 2023.

 

[Xand&Roby]

The year is 2023.

And it seems today is 2023, or you read only what you like?

 

[Chazak]

12", 13", 15" 16" Seriously?

Nice toy, but that is about it. It has no market and makes no sense.

 

[teh_hunterer]

With thin bezels, a current style keyboard, a pro-motion display, and more than 1 port, this could be a great device. Most discussion I've seen around this has the idea that a reintroduced MacBook would have be at the bottom of the lineup and have to be priced less than the MacBook Air, but I always want to ask, why?

The original 12" MacBook wasn't priced as an entry level device, and if it included the niceties I mentioned above, a new one wouldn't be. You've already got the M2 MacBook Air for people who want the entry level.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

This is what I wanted since the M1 chip was announced.

 

[everythingapplerainbow]

or just make iPad capable of multi-user and I'll be happy using it

 

[CyberBob859]

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.

Microsoft sells the Surface Laptop Go, a low-end 12" laptop for around $500 to start that tries to serve that student market you mentioned. I keep looking at that and think Apple can make a 12" MacBook with an M1 chip, charge $899, and people would buy it.

 

[defferoo]

this would actually be a perfect vehicle for older generations of SOCs as an entry-level device targeted towards students and those who are on the go.

You could have a lineup of M1/M2 12" MacBook at $899, M3 13" MacBook Air at $1099, and M3 15" MacBook Air at $1399.

It can't really be a premium device like the original was without having obvious benefits over the Air, so it makes the most sense as an entry-level device that focuses on portability.

 

[ian87w]

I could see a 12 inch MB/MBA - i.e. the same design as the M2 MBA - sitting at $999 though.

That’s assuming Apple would discontinue the M1 MacBook Air. But the current Apple will not spend money for new designs and production for their low end models. Take M1 MacBook Air, 13” MacBook Pro, iPhone SE, iPad 9, all Apple’s lowest tier reuse old designs.

The 12” MacBook makes no sense in the current lineup. This rumor is just a random old rumor being resurfaced to create news.

 

[ian87w]

Microsoft sells the Surface Laptop Go, a low-end 12" laptop for around $500 to start that tries to serve that student market you mentioned. I keep looking at that and think Apple can make a 12" MacBook with an M1 chip, charge $899, and people would buy it.

Apple can just drop the current M1 MacBook Air price and call it a day. Saves the money from redesigning for a lower margin product. Look at the current Apple. They never make new design for their cheapest models, it’s always reusing old design.

 

[Saturn1217]

I wish I had a need for this. Once upon a time having the smallest laptop possible was the dream. I've moved on to a different stage of my life, but this should absolutely still happen.

An apple silicon 12" MBA would be exactly what the 12" Macbook always should have been.

 

[ThisBougieLife]

12", 13", 15" 16" Seriously?

Nice toy, but that is about it. It has no market and makes no sense.

You forgot 14".

Maybe they should also bring back the 11" MBA and the 17" MBP. A full rainbow of screen sizes.

 

[Dydegu]

Not really.
We don't need more product. We need simple line up. With Intel it made sense to have more but now it doesn't. All we need is 2 products.

Macbook Air & Macbook Pro

with Apple Silicon its easy enough as follow:

Air-> 12" 14" - Mx
Pro-> 14" 16" - Mx Pro & Mx Max

Simple, covers it all and Apple doesn't have the mess they have now.

Who needs a simple lineup? You’re not providing a logical reason for the simplicity. Just for simplicity’s sake?

There’s still a prior generation MBA for sale, and the 13” MBP with TouchBar. Should Apple eliminate those from the lineup for the sake of simplicity? No, of course not. They offer enticing price points. Again, options at different price points are good for consumers.

If the product is going to sell, they’re going to make it. Let Apple experiment with new products. It’s what they do. Let their designers rise to the occasion and make an ultra portable again. It was a cool device back in 2015, and existed alongside the MBA and MBP, and we should look forward to what it could look like in 2023.

 

[dandyryan]

But the current Apple will not spend money for new designs and production for their low end models.

They literally just did with the newest iPad with the horizontal camera layout and slightly bigger casing.

They can reuse the M1 and 12" could still sell.

 

[x86dude]

I had the 12” MB. I would only recommend it if you fit the niche market : it is perfect for travel and lunch at the coffee shop. It is the weight and size of a iPad pro. It slips in to a tight flap of your regular bag. Despite a small CPU, it was enough to compile my software. Be prepared to plan your use of the single (USB-C) port, and get the Apple dongle.

I replaced mine with a 13” MBA and I take it with me much less often. I may try to re-own my 12” MB.

 

[CyberBob859]

Apple can just drop the current M1 MacBook Air price and call it a day. Saves the money from redesigning for a lower margin product. Look at the current Apple. They never make new design for their cheapest models, it’s always reusing old design.

Apple of today rarely drops prices. Even the M1 Air stayed at $999 when the M2 Air was released.

The M1 Air started its life as an Intel model with a Butterfly keyboard. Apple improved the keyboard and switched to its own chips. Can’t see why the same formula can’t be applied to the 12” MacBook they had in production for four years. They have been doing this with the iPhone SE line for awhile now.

 

[257Loner]

I doubt this. Apple discontinued the 12" MacBook because the 13" MacBook Air outclassed it for nearly the same price. Apple could try again, this time selling it at a lower cost than a 13" MacBook Air. However, people shopping for a premium Apple laptop will probably be tempted to upgrade to the 13" MacBook Air over the 12" MacBook all over again.

 

[russell_314]

Why would you do this Apple... I just bought an M2 Air. If this thing has MagSafe and at least one USB-C port I'm going to be spending more money. There goes $1400 🤦‍♂️

 

[Le0M]

Come on man. Not everyone wants to work on a gimped OS like that.

I know, I know. I'd never get an iPad myself to work professionally either.
My point was that Apple is starting to create so many different versions of the same thing that it's losing focus, in my opinion. I'd rather Apple focused on fewer but well-made devices.

 

[russell_314]

12", 13", 15" 16" Seriously?

Nice toy, but that is about it. It has no market and makes no sense.

The idea is you buy the one that fits you not all of them. Look how many iPad and iPhone choices we have. I won't complain about more options.

 

[loby]

Unless they price it very affordably, it's gonna be pointless device in already confusing Mac product line.

Or maybe they learned from previous Macbook which pretty much no one bought and this new MacBook will be nothing like the previous one.

Maybe not "pointless" since this would be much different from the Air and Pro. Ultra thin and light, small form factor. With a silicon chip in it, it will have the power that the others did not have, plus the convenience of total portability.

"Yes" the Air is good...but to me is not an "Air" anymore. I could live with the weight of it (it is kind of like a younger brother of the Pro without the Pro stuff), but really...not an Air by definition.

Basically...it would be an iPad with macOS without the touch screen. I am one that DOESN'T want an iPad with macOS, so this caters to my buying segment (and it may be a larger segment than most think). iPad iOS is fine on iPad, no need to mess things up.

What will be the deal breaker is the cost. But as we all well know...Apple will probably overprice it, so we will see how it goes.

Hope this rumor is true...

This will cannibalize the iPad even more.

Not if it stays macOS....

 

[Freida]

What was the first thing Steve Jobs did when he returned back to Apple? He SIMPLIFIED the product line.

Having too many options is not always a good thing. Right now, Apple is messy. Now that they have their own chips they can simplify it whilst catering for pretty much anyone. Simple as that

Who needs a simple lineup? You’re not providing a logical reason for the simplicity. Just for simplicity’s sake?

There’s still a prior generation MBA for sale, and the 13” MBP with TouchBar. Should Apple eliminate those from the lineup for the sake of simplicity? No, of course not. They offer enticing price points. Again, options at different price points are good for consumers.

If the product is going to sell, they’re going to make it. Let Apple experiment with new products. It’s what they do. Let their designers rise to the occasion and make an ultra portable again. It was a cool device back in 2015, and existed alongside the MBA and MBP, and we should look forward to what it could look like in 2023.