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

[turbineseaplane]

Unfortunately Apple has become a money making machine and has forgotten or too scared to really innovate, hence why they recycle & reuse ideas with the least risk and with that I doubt we'll see 12" Mac anytime soon. More likely Apple will shrink the Air's chassis, equally it will remain entry level not premium.

Yup..
It's been a downhill slide for a few years now in my view

 

[Queen6]

Yup..
It's been a downhill slide for a few years now in my view

Apple's own silicon has definitely brought them back into the spotlight as a 13" Ultrabook presenting the same performance as a well implemented Intel hex core or a poorly implemented Intel octa core is not to be ignored.

The concern is Apple will once again be overly ambitious and focus more on the aesthetic than the functionality and we'll suffer another cycle of excuses. That said I would imagine that after the embarrassment of having every portable Mac on extended warrantee one would like to think that somebody at the top would wake up...

I opted for the 13" M1 MBP as I want a solid tried and proven chassis, sit out and see how the redesign pans out with the next generation. To me Apple has to come up with a very solid design, especially the 16" as I think many are tired of Apple's excuses. M1 is very much a step in the right direction as long as Apple's vanity doesn't override the users actual needs.

Q-6

 

[Porphyromonas gingivalis]

I registered on MacRumours after years of being only a reader just so I could post a response to this article.

I own a MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015), which I bought in 2016. It has a measly 1.1 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core M processor, and it will not get the next macOS update.

But I really wish Apple would shrink the 13.3-inch screen of the Air and match the form factor of MacBook. It seriously has to be the most friendly laptop size I have ever used. It is much smaller and way more portable than the new Air, and that just takes away the barrier to use it practically anywhere. I have rarely found myself feeling lazy to open and plonk it on my lap.

In addition, even with a processor that is ancient and works at a groan-inducing speed, I have been able to get quite some work done on it: Keynotes, Photos and iMovie work with respectable speed, and even the Affinity suite works fine. I am sure is nowhere near the faster Macs, but it does get the job done.

With the M1 coming into picture, my hope is that even a small form factor without fans can be powered by a mighty processor. Keeping my fingers crossed.

(I didn't get asked to take the Apple Survey mentioned in the post though.)

 

[chucker23n1]

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 think especially the pricing is too optimistic. It'll be more like:

- 13 inch MacBook Air with M1 from $799
- 13 inch MacBook Air with M2 from $1099
- 13 inch MacBook Pro M1 from $1299
- 14 inch MacBook Pro M2X from $1599
- 16 inch MacBook Pro M2X from $2199

Keep in mind the 16-inch currently starts(!) at $2399. Going to $1699 would be drastic. $1999 is plausible especially if it doesn't have a dGPU.

I also increasingly don't believe we'll see an M1X; rather, they'll go straight to the M2X.

 

[rkehlor]

If I were to buy another laptop, it would preferably be in the 12-ish inch size range and fanless. I could consider up to at most 13-ish if the bezel sizes were decreased, but the 14" is just too big for my tastes.

However, my current 16 GB 2017 12" MacBook is still fine for my usage, and my next purchase would likely be an OLED iPad Air / iPad Pro at around 11" or so, probably with Magic Keyboard. My current 10.5" iPad Pro is fine, but I would prefer OLED and slightly bigger screen, with a slightly wider aspect ratio, along with USB-C and a second charging port (in the Magic Keyboard). Face ID would also be preferred, or at least Watch unlock (which currently is not supported).

Right now when I go on short trips with no need for macOS, I just take my iPad Pro. When I went on longer business trips (pre-Covid), I'd often take both my MacBook and my iPad Pro (or iPad).

My main beef with the 12" MacBook is not the screen size. In fact I think it's screen size is very nice. My main beefs are the keyboard and trackpad, and the lack of separate charging port. The 2015 keyboard sucks, and the 2017 keyboard is merely OK. As for the trackpad, its feel is just not so robust. he click feel is better on the MacBook Pros of the same era. Also, I would have rather had a separate charging port than the headphone jack. Courage!



14" and 16" MacBook Pros are coming soon most likely. Furthermore, I'm pretty sure that Apple can do more than a few things at a time.

EugW, I totally agree! I adore the size/weight of my 2015 12" and still use it daily... the single USB-C port was supremely annoying a handful of times, so 2 would be helpful, and of course the awful keyboard would need a massive upgrade; but the screen is beautiful and the sound/speakers are fantastic as well. The trackpad never really bothered me, but I see your point. (And of course an M1 or M1x chip upgrade would solve both its slow-pokiness, and anemic battery life...)

For me, the iPad + keyboard isn't a good substitute--that feels top-heavy to me, and is heavier overall. I like the stability of the 12" Macbook since the CPU/RAM/SSD and battery are in the bottom. And the screen angle is more flexible on the laptop, for use & video viewing, esp. on your lap or in bed.

I'll wait and see what they come out with in Q1/2022. Hopefully something for us!

(Like PorphyGingi, I also didn't get the survey they sent out...)

 

[MarAce]

The biggest mistake to discontinue the MB 12. The best lightweight laptop for travel and just about everything else. I bought the new MacBook Air 13 and it's way too heavy -- definitely not conducive to travel. I hope Apple brings it back soon.

 

[throAU]

I used the 12' for a while and the 13" a lot more. In my experience the 13" is the perfect screen size, for me at least. If I had the choice of Apple making the new 14" notebooks the same physical outside dimensions and the current 13", or making the 13" bezelless and thus smaller, I would choose the latter. I don't think I need the extra 1" of screen space.

That said, I have no need for the 12" screen at all.

Depends on your needs.

My ex loved the 11" because it fit in her handbags. 13" did not. Everything else for her was entirely secondary to that consideration (i.e., better spec/performance, etc. on the 13" didn't matter because she would not have been carrying it with her).

 

[EugW]

Depends on your needs.

My ex loved the 11" because it fit in her handbags. 13" did not. Everything else for her was entirely secondary to that consideration (i.e., better spec/performance, etc. on the 13" didn't matter because she would not have been carrying it with her).

The 12” fits inconspicuously into my travel man purse. The 13” does not. It requires a much larger bag.

 

[speedyraf]

My spouse and I like our 11" (him) and 13" (me) 2015 MacBook Airs that still work fine. My Air does take up a lot of space on a travel tray so a smaller laptop would be nice for me. We'd think seriously about new computers if Apple announced an M1 with updated specs 12" MacBook in its original size.

 

[lowkey]

I loved my 2015 12” bottom of the range MacBook. So perfect for travelling. When I started my own practice, for a while it was also my main machine running InDesign, Word, XL, Email and Web browser.

I would buy another one, no matter what the price, if it had a second port that could run an external monitor.

 

[robbyclark]

Here's the survey Apple.

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

Did you even own one?

I have had one for 6years (purchased in 2015 and upgraded in 2019 after having mine stolen), I have found both units to be phenomenal machines for their size; excellent for commuting/traveling abroad. Given almost all my work on the computer is emails and tenders/proposals, the performance is more than adequate. Ports just are not an issue for this user case.

It even holds up when I occasionally fire up Docker and compile code with composer. Photoshop also runs acceptably for the odd crop and save for web task.

If they bring out an M1 or other M series version, I would upgrade in a heartbeat.

Naturally, comment/reply is typed on the aforementioned 12inch!

 

[Jen71dtc]

Never had the 12” MacBook… I was always tempted by the display, but couldn’t get used to the idea of a single port for both charging and accessories. If they’d added a second port, it would have been perfect for me. My 11” Air was my favorite laptop ever, and I kept it much longer than I normally keep any tech devices. Ended up getting a 13” Pro (TB) because there was such a small weight difference between the 13” Air and Pro models, but I would love to go back to the smaller form factor.

 

[AppliedVisual]

Never got this survey… The 12” is awesome. I know I responded to this thread early on, but I bought the 12” for my wife when it came out in 2015. Went with the top spec i7 model and had to wait a bit to get it. It’s been her daily driver since and she’s willing to consider a new Air, but would prefer the smaller form factor. At this point, the space bar and a couple other keys are failing and unreliable. The battery is mostly shot, only holds a charge for 45 minutes… Hoping Apple comes through with something good here.

 

[gromals]

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?

You're missing out the size. The difference between 12" and 13" is huge when you are a frequent traveller.

 

[Bertie Beetle]

Survey me! I would absolutely love a refreshed 12 inch. Just so portable and light. Cannot stand working on an iPad with a keyboard in comparison. Been hanging out to replace mine for years, and will keep waiting. Smallest MBP feels like carrying a brick compared to the 12 inch.

 

[Bertie Beetle]

I think the next MacBook Air will look just like the good old MacBook 12’ or even better, better as in larger screen & lighter.

Maxbook Air *lighter* than a MacBook 12 inch? I doubt it. Unless they make it 12 inches and simply call the new MB12 a MacBook Air 12 inch