Difference in price?

[Macadelic]

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know why the 12-inch Macbook from 2015-2017 was a little more expensive than the Air? Is it because of the unique fanless design?

 

[0128672]

I'm curious about this too based on the Apple Refurb Store prices for the 2017 Macbooks. There's a couple 2017s there now that are $1359 for i5/8/512. A refurb 2019 MBA i5/16/512 is $1159. This may not be a valid comparison, I realize, but I'm curious why the Macbooks still fetch such high prices.

 

[playtech1]

Ultimately it's just market segmentation - people willing to pay a little more for portability.

However I think that it's worth bearing in mind that when the 2015 model launched it was the first of the 'next generation' of MacBooks with the Space Grey colour choice, tiered battery for a slim chassis, USB-C, top-notch speakers and... the butterfly keyboard.

It could command a bit of a premium in 2015 because the Air of that day was a non-retina dinosaur (albeit a very attractive and well-loved dinosaur). I feel that Apple eventually made the 12 inch MacBook pricing seem less premium by raising the price of everything else...

 

[4sallypat]

Ultimately it's just market segmentation - people willing to pay a little more for portability.

However I think that it's worth bearing in mind that when the 2015 model launched it was the first of the 'next generation' of MacBooks with the Space Grey colour choice, tiered battery for a slim chassis, USB-C, top-notch speakers and... the butterfly keyboard.

It could command a bit of a premium in 2015 because the Air of that day was a non-retina dinosaur (albeit a very attractive and well-loved dinosaur). I feel that Apple eventually made the 12 inch MacBook pricing seem less premium by raising the price of everything else...

Yes, this is true - I have the very first gen 2015 MB and it was the only thin laptop that sports the Retina display while the Airs at that time did not have it.
My very first non silver Mac - I got the MB in gold.
It was also the thinnest laptop and I loved it as a travel laptop - lighter than my iPad Pro which was important when every kG was weighed in European airports....

My 2015 MB was a BTO/CTO with the 512GB SSD which was not very common and costed $2100 with AppleCare.

Recently picked up on eBay a refurbished 2017 MB with the i5 and 512GB SSD for $700.

Amazing how prices differ nowadays...

 

[lixuelai]

The MB 12 is the more premium device. The MBA feels like Apple intentionally gimped it to keep it from competing with the MBP 13. For example the MB 12 has much better speakers in comparison to the MBA.

 

[4sallypat]

I like these 2 features on the 12" rMB - both future leading designs showing in the latest Macs:
1. Thinner edge to edge display screen without large wide silver bezels like the MBA.
2. Aluminum anodized color matching hinge cover on the 12" rMB.

Display on the 12" rMB is much more futuristic in design than the MBA - the bezels say it all.

Back in 2015, before the MBA and MBP had plastic hinge covers (black plastic), the rMB had the very first metal anodized color matching hinge cover!

 

[0128672]

What I don't understand is why the MacBooks are holding their value more than a comparable MacBook Pro. For example, comparing two models in the US Refurb Store:

2017 Macbook i5 dual core 2.3GHz 8/512 $1359
versus
2017 13" Macbook Pro i5 dual core 2.3GHz 8/512 $1189

I'm surprised the MacBook is priced higher. What would account for the difference?

 

[4sallypat]

....
I'm surprised the MacBook is priced higher. What would account for the difference?

I am surprised as well but looking at the rarity of the discontinued 12" rMB, it makes sense that people still want them.

The MBP is lower because they are coming out with newer models that replaces quickly.

For someone like me who has 2 of the rMB - I love them dearly as they are the perfect laptop for travel and compact lightweight computing.

I got my latest 2017 i5 12" rMB with 8GB and 512GB SSD used on eBay for $700 complete with a new battery and top cover!