Apple Surveys 12-Inch MacBook Users for Opinions on Size, Features, and More

[Mousse]

Good to see a few folks ask for moar ports. If they're gonna use USB C for everything, moar ports is important. I would require 3 minimum (charging, external monitor, card reader/printer/whatever), 4 would be nice.

I feel so Ollie Twist asking for moar, Moar, MOAR.😁 "Please, sir, I want some more."

 

[sehns]

Apple Silicon, 2 ports (1 on each side, for the love of god), and a Sim-card slot!

 

[dogslobber]

Can it run Microsoft Window?

 

[akbarali.ch]

Apple, if you planning to make a computer with only 1 port, then dont, just spare us. Anything less than 4 port is not a computer. And for the ones you called pros, it needs to have atleast 6 of them.

Macbook Air 2017 has 4 ports (MagSafe, 2xUSB, 1xThunderbolt) + SD card slot + 3.5mm jack.

When i goto office sometime (mostly its WFH) i connect thunderbolt drive, usb keyboard, usb mouse, hdmi monitor and MagSafe to Macbook pro 15inch (Late 2013)

 

[ElectricPotato]

WhyTF do they need a survey?

So they can do the opposite of what the survey reports? Need more touchbar... 🤣

 

[bousozoku]

I never understood the need for MacBook nothing compared to the MacBook Air. It seems to be aimed at the exact same demographics. What I’m missing out?

People have been screaming for a 12 inch MacBook since the 12 inch PowerBook was discontinued, even though that was a specialty item.

I can't imagine why they even bothered with the Core M processors, though.

 

[mrllama]

Last week I received a survey invitation from Apple Market Research about my 2020 MBA (Intel) experience (never owned a MacBook). Perhaps they're targeting their Mac consumer base at-large at the moment?

 

[Macalway]

This makes me a bit angry. It's not like a zillion people and simple common sense isn't enough.

Add another port (obviously. maybe two or three?)
reduce bezel-enlarge screen (obviously)
better keyboard......

Done.

But no, they need a survey to confuse things. This is not good. The only good out of this, is now at least we know that they haven't completely ruled out the 12 inch.

Well that's good

 

[Dreamail]

I never understood the need for MacBook nothing compared to the MacBook Air. It seems to be aimed at the exact same demographics. What I’m missing out?

It is difficult to explain unless you owned one and compared them.
The 13" MacBook Air is almost 50% (!!) heavier in weight than the 12" MacBook. That is -a-lot- of additional weight - for a laptop.
And it is 1 inch wider and 1/2 inch deeper, which means it does not fit in the same bags or spaces.

Or to put it differently:

For the 13" MacBook Air you need a dedicated attache or laptop bag, and you are feeling that you carry a "real" laptop bag around all day, and your shoulder will eventually get hurting and stiff from you carrying it all day. At least mine did.

The 12" MacBook is lighter and thinner than a 11" iPad with case, and a lot so with the magic keyboard case!
It can fit into almost any bag - does not need to be a dedicated laptop bag. I carry it in a tiny sling bag.
And weighing so little, I often even forget it is in my bag or not. It doesn't hurt my shoulder if I carry it all day.

At home, because it is so small, it fits on any ledge or tiny table, it can easily be carried with two fingers, makes no noise (has no fan), and is overall a lot more versatile than any iPad Pro ever can be.

The 12" MacBook to me is total freedom. You don't feel the weight in your bag, you can use really small bags - no one would think there's a laptop in it - it fits onto any tiny space and seat tray, often even with room for a coffee next to it.


Why would I want a big and heavy 13" MacBook Air?!?

 

[Putzytart]

My 12 inch MacBook hit the absolute sweet spot for size and portability. My newer 13 inch M1 MBA is big an heavy compared to the old MacBook. I loved the 12 inch form factor. Wish they would bring it back. Or at least reduce the bezels on the 13 so much that it has the form factor of the old 12.

 

[Neepman]

Assuming the survey isn't fake, what a snapshot of what apple has become. In the old days of apple, Jobs wouldn't have even listened to what his mother had to say let alone a focus group or survey.

 

[ValO]

Line up next year:

- 12 inch MacBook with m1 from $899
- 14 inch MacBook Air with m2 from $1099
- 14 inch MacBook Pro m1x from $1399
- 16 inch MacBook Pro m1x from $1699

I really liked the 12 inch, and it would be a great “budget” laptop for apple, the original 12 inch MacBook was quite expensive because of the way they used a special form factor of batteries to make battery life acceptable. With a m1 soc they could use regular shaped batteries and less batteries to keep the price low and battery life acceptable.

And I think they will drop the 13.3 inch air for a 14 inch sized with a more powerful m2 but for a $100 more .

 

[fwmireault]

It is difficult to explain unless you owned one and compared them.
The 13" MacBook Air is almost 50% (!!) heavier in weight than the 12" MacBook. That is -a-lot- of additional weight - for a laptop.
And it is 1 inch wider and 1/2 inch deeper, which means it does not fit in the same bags or spaces.

Or to put it differently:

For the 13" MacBook Air you need a dedicated attache or laptop bag, and you are feeling that you carry a "real" laptop bag around all day, and your shoulder will eventually get hurting and stiff from you carrying it all day. At least mine did.

The 12" MacBook is lighter and thinner than a 11" iPad with case, and a lot so with the magic keyboard case!
It can fit into almost any bag - does not need to be a dedicated laptop bag. I carry it in a tiny sling bag.
And weighing so little, I often even forget it is in my bag or not. It doesn't hurt my shoulder if I carry it all day.

At home, because it is so small, it fits on any ledge or tiny table, it can easily be carried with two fingers, makes no noise (has no fan), and is overall a lot more versatile than any iPad Pro ever can be.

The 12" MacBook to me is total freedom. You don't feel the weight in your bag, you can use really small bags - no one would think there's a laptop in it - it fits onto any tiny space and seat tray, often even with room for a coffee next to it.


Why would I want a big and heavy 13" MacBook Air?!?

I understand, I never thought that MacBook Air weight was an issue. Thank you for your answer!

 

[svish]

Though I think a ultra portable 12" Macbook will have many takers, a redesigned Air with both the current display size and a new 16" will be nice. In multiple colours 🤩.

 

[HackMacDaddy]

Make it happen! Been waiting for ever.

 

[Dreamail]

Here's the survey Apple.

1 port - FAIL
Performance - FAIL
Battery life - FAIL
Keyboard - FAIL
Price - FAIL

1 port - FAIL. Yes, it needs 2 ports. And at least one thunderbolt port at that.

Performance - JUST FINE. I disagree with you, the performance is fine for the screen size, all the writing, spreadsheeting and Internet you ever need. I do not expect to edit 8K videos in FinalCut Pro on this.
The SSD is really fast, which helps with a lot of tasks.

Battery Life - JUST FINE. Maybe you never used one, but I have all-day-battery life on mine. 8 hours plus. It is fine.
If you want to carry the power adapter along, its 29W adapter is very tiny and very light.

Keyboard - first generation: FAIL, third generation: SO-SO. I agree that the first generation butterfly keyboard was bad. But the last generation really is better. Noticeably better. Still only so-so though. One price to pay for miniaturization.

Camera - FAIL. Apple laptop cameras are appalling. On -any- device.

Speakers - AMAZING! The 12" MacBook introduced new speaker tech in Apple devices, and they still sound amazing to me. Loud, full-bodied, undistorted. I have the latest M1 iPad Pro as well, and its speakers suck in comparison. Really. The 12" MacBook is amazing for watching videos. It is -the- best portable media consumption device. Much better than even an M1 iPad Pro.

Price - YMMV. Just because you may think size = price, does not mean the smallest device must have the smallest price. Miniaturization is expensive. Making components just a bit tinier, can increase prices. Me personally, I prefer a more pocketable size, and I am happy to pay a premium for it. Your mileage may vary of course...

 

[Nibo]

The 11in MacBook Air was my favorite computer I have owned. I love that form-factor (or even smaller)

Same for me. Although I was quite younger then, not sure if my eyes could deal with it now

 

[playtech1]

As a happy owner of a 12 inch MacBook and an M1 Air, I think the changes I would want to see in a 12 inch MB are all pretty obvious:

- Thunderbolt ports (not just plain old USB-C)
- one more port
- better keyboard
- bigger screen with small bezels

The M1 Air is an excellent machine, but in terms of size and weight there is a meaningful difference with the 12 inch MB. I have 2018 iPads in both 11 and 12.9 inch flavours and when paired with a Magic Keyboard neither are as light or as useful as the 12 inch MB. Mac OS is the killer app that makes the MB better than an iPad for me.

 

[Psychicbob]

MacBook Air and MacBook Air Mini

 

[playtech1]

Speakers - AMAZING! The 12" MacBook introduced new speaker tech in Apple devices, and they still sound amazing to me. Loud, full-bodied, undistorted. I have the latest M1 iPad Pro as well, and its speakers suck in comparison. Really. The 12" MacBook is amazing for watching videos. It is -the- best portable media consumption device. Much better than even an M1 iPad Pro.

I totally agree and think the 12 inch MB still has by far the best sounding speakers compared with a 2018 4 port MBP or an M1 MBA (both which are very good, but the 12 inch MB is better).

Truly remarkable for such a tiny device.

 

[sledgehammer89]

My answer: Would be fantastic if my iPad Pro 11" (with Smart Keyboard and external Trackpad) get optionally macOS.

 

[Frosties]

Will nerver forget the joke of the 480p Camera, though the form factor was perfect for a small laptop. Had to increase the font size for a friend to better read the screen and it was pink (rosegold).

 

[Dreamail]

This makes me a bit angry. It's not like a zillion people and simple common sense isn't enough.

Add another port (obviously. maybe two or three?)
reduce bezel-enlarge screen (obviously)
better keyboard......

Done.

Well...

- I definitely want more than 512GB storage. Even 11" iPads offer up to 2TB these days...

- And definitely a better built-in camera. Grainy 480p or even 720p is ridiculous in these Zoom-meeting days.

 

[4jasontv]

I still wish I had gotten one of these. However, I still love my 11” MacBook Air. But, wasn’t the butterfly keyboard horrible ? I have yet to try one out.

We have an 11” and a MBP with butterfly. The butterfly keyboard isn’t ideal but it works. The 11” however is amazing and still gets used daily. It’s currently a school laptop, and while I’d love to replace it Apple does not have a comparable Mac right now.

 

[bodonnell202]

I think the biggest issue with the 12" MB was the price. I could see Apple bringing back a smaller MB (perhaps with the Air redesign?) and an M series chip.