Apple Said to Release New Entry-Level 13-inch MacBook This Year, Likely Replacing MacBook Air

[conifer]

"Apple's long-term aim was for the 12-inch MacBook to replace the MacBook Air, which was first introduced in 2010"

No, the first MacBook Air came out in 2008. I still remember Steve Jobs pulls it out of a paper envelope on stage.

Yeah I think it’s first full year was 2009.i was envious of the lighter size but couldn’t deal with small 64 gb drive and battery. People were miserable using it.

Edit sorry it wasn’t the battery so much as slow speed and lack of ports so that if something was plugged in, perhaps forced to use the battery? I just remember agony of user who was trialing for his co and now stuck with machine for several years. I was sitting fine with my Mac alum late 2008. Apple-can be agony if under spec’ed. I regret a little still that my pro 2016 only has 256 go of space, although a lot more workable with smaller faster externals and tiny usb sticks.

 

[Falhófnir]

The article says “Apple's long-term aim was for the 12-inch MacBook to replace the MacBook Air, which was first introduced in 2010, but sales of the Air have remained strong mainlythanks to its affordability.”

The MacBook Air was introduced in 2008 no?

Arguably you could read it as the current design was introduced in 2010, though the use of 'first' introduced muddles that a bit.

 

[Onexy]

Come on, this is Apple we’re talking about.
When was the last time they just made something cheaper?

I recall the times it happened in Jobs keynotes. But yes that's long ago.

 

[44267547]

Can experts enlighten us as to why in 2018 we're not talking about OLED laptops (Macbooks) yet?

What experts might that be? It's been rumored before for an OLED MacBook, but I still think manufacturing OLED displays has its constraints and yields. Micro-Led will hopefully eventually be here.

 

[eddjedi]

I really think they have missed a trick killing off the 11" MacBook Air. I don't think they realise how many people loved that form factor. By today's standards the 13" MBA is no longer a small laptop, and the 12" Macbook is too expensive and under powered. The i7 11" MBA was a very capable little thing.

 

[argentum47]

Appreciate Apple's interest in the lower price Macbook lines.
In addition to those though, they really need a portability-focused 15" MB/MBA or an updated non-TB 15" MBP.

 

[Onexy]

Last month the iPhone battery replacement from $79 to $29 , Sept 2017 iPhone SE $399 to $349, Mac Pro dropped about $1,000 iirc in April 2017, 128GB iPad mini 4 from $499 to $399 in March 2017.

Longish post at:

https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/25711345/

But these are borderline obsolete products which Apple should've stopped selling already.
Preferably with new versions in stock.

 

[Falhófnir]

Appreciate Apple's interest in the lower price Macbook lines.
In addition to those though, they really need a portability-focused 15" MB/MBA or an updated non-TB 15" MBP.

Arguably, between the portability focused 12" MacBook and the now easily portable enough 15" the need for a 13" is being squeezed out. Being cheaper (with better performance than the 12") is probably the single big remaining selling point of the 13" pro.

 

[PickUrPoison]

But these are borderline obsolete products which Apple should've stopped selling already.
Preferably with new versions in stock.

Some yes, others not. iPhone prices drop every year, one year old iPhones are nowhere near obsolete.

 

[Onexy]

Some yes, others not. iPhone prices drop every year, one year old iPhones are nowhere near obsolete.

The iPhone SE is older than 1 year, tho.

 

[BvizioN]

Bring at least two full Thunderbolt 3 (40 Gbps) ports.

Nah. Just one of the USB type C would do.

 

[MrBat]

All I want is an updated version from the MacBook pro 13" unibody (mid 2012) with user replaceable RAM, HD and battery. That one had good IO and MagSafe. Just replace the FireWire and Thunderbolt 2 ports for 2 TB3 USB C.

Same form factor. just put up to date the internals and improve the screen panel to Full HD and that's it.

I get the point of light-wave MacBook Pros that some people dig, but these are not for me. I want well designed and user serviceable machines. I don't care if they are more "bulky". Am I crazy to long for this?

 

[anthorumor]

I wonder if they're going to offer something people actually want.
Last thing we want to hear from them is, 'what's a computer?'

 

[TurboJobo]

Keep regular usb ports, give it a 1080p ips display and not that ****** subpar screen macbook airs have and im sold

 

[PickUrPoison]

This rumor makes little sense. Why have a 12” and 13” MacBook? At least a 14” would make more sense, if Apple wants to expand their 5W CPU lineup.

But why not just reduce the price of the lowest end 13” MBP?

Why an all new design? How does that make a $999 price point easier to hit? I guess using a non-retina, less expensive display?

 

[DamoTheBrave]

I'm surprised there is a market for 12" laptops. 13" is quite small and 15" is usually just adequate.

 

[andy42]

Just put in a currently CPU, IPS FHD-Panel (100% sRGB), 16GB of Ram, 256GB, change from DP to TB3/USB-C, DON'T change the f* keyboard (I really hate to type on a keyboard which feels more like a piece of a wood) and I'm going to buy it again.

MBA was one of the best machines I've ever had. Currently running one of the last 2015 rMBP cuz the display sucks so much on MBA if you compare it with all other notebooks made by Apple.

(If Apple is going to change the keyboard to this piece of s* like on all other machines I'm done and going to look for something else.)

 

[bluraycinema]

Sounds to me like they just want to update the Air because it is still selling well, like they did when they introduced the iPhone SE.

 

[PickUrPoison]

The iPhone SE is older than 1 year, tho.

Not just iPhone SE pricing dropped, that was just one example. iPhone 7/7 Plus also dropped in price a few months ago, just like iPhone 8/8 Plus prices will drop in September.

Apple Watch prices also decrease when the new model is released.

 

[Onexy]

Not just iPhone SE pricing dropped, that was just one example. iPhone 7/7 Plus also dropped in price a few months ago, just like iPhone 8/8Plus prices will drop in September.

Apple Watch prices also decrease when the new model is released.

I get your point, but reductions by Apple are a bad investment. Even when the next iPhone has 30% more performance they don't drop their prices by 30%. If you want a last year iPhone the used market has waaaayyy better value at that point, too.

 

[timmyh]

"Apple's long-term aim was for the 12-inch MacBook to replace the MacBook Air, which was first introduced in 2010"

No, the first MacBook Air came out in 2008. I still remember Steve Jobs pulls it out of a paper envelope on stage.

The MacBook Air was introduced in 2008 no?

Correct, and corrected. Thanks, my bad. We actually covered this the other day https://www.macrumors.com/2018/01/15/macbook-air-turns-10/

 

[fokmik]

apple never offered 2 mac sizes with different of just 1"
what is this 12" Macbook and 13" macbook? at least make it 13.6" or 14"
i think this is fake

 

[Feyl]

Hey Apple, just give me a MacBook Air with Retina display and thinner bezels. And don’t mess with ports please.

 

[JaySoul]

Have never liked the 12" MacBook. It's pretty, but can't stand the keyboard, it's underpowered and overpriced.

Still prefer the MacBook Air. A new 13" MacBook of that ilk makes sense.

I don't think they'll make an 11" one now - Tim Cook loves the iPad range too much.

 

[Dave245]

Will it have a retina display? i could be wrong but i think the Air is the only line of MacBook to not have a retina display. It would make sense to replace the MacBook Air with a MacBook that would have a retina display and more up to date processors and specs, maybe while keeping the 12 hour battery life from the MacBook Air.