iMac and MacBook Early Reviews: Iterative Updates With Welcome Performance Boosts

[MacRumors]

At the WWDC keynote on Monday, Apple announced a collection of hardware refreshes for the MacBook, MacBook Pro, and iMac, which users are already able to order on Apple.com. Across the line of Macs, Apple added faster Kaby Lake processors, faster SSD options, made a Fusion Drive standard in the iMac, introduced more maximum RAM in the iMac, and improved GPUs.

Now, the company has allowed members of the press to test out both the MacBook and iMac refreshes to see how the computers stack up in comparison to the previous generation, as well as to Apple's competition. Below we'll round up opinions on the MacBook, 21.5-inch iMac, and 27-inch iMac. As many sites noted, first impressions and reviews for the all-new iMac Pro aren't expected to arrive until later in the year, ahead of the computer's December launch.

12-inch MacBook

Apple sent reviewers the base 1.2GHz Core m3 model ($1,299) of the new 12-inch MacBook, and CNET came away largely impressed by the slightly beefed up machine. The site noted that the biggest and most welcome addition was found in the new and improved keyboard with a second generation butterfly mechanism, which has been adopted from the same keyboard on the MacBook Pro line from last year.

Now the 12-inch MacBook has adopted that improved second-gen butterfly mechanism from the Pro line. Even using it in just a few initial typing sessions, I can totally tell the difference -- there's a click and spring to the keyboard that was lacking before. As someone who has typed hundreds of thousands of words across both previous generations of the 12-inch MacBook, I'm very pleasantly surprised by how good this keyboard feels.

Otherwise, CNET liked the default Intel Core m3 CPU in the MacBook, which remains fine for activities like web browsing and streaming video but still lacks any sort of power needed for heavy multitasking or high-end video editing. Upgraded configurations of the MacBook are available with 1.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 ($1,599) and dual-core Core i7 ($1,749), along with available RAM bumps from 8GB to 16GB ($200), but Apple has kept review units focused on the base tier. All versions retain the MacBook's slim 2.03lb body and Retina display.

Image via CNET​

Both The Verge and CNET noted that power users will remain disappointed with the MacBook, which still only has one USB-C port. But for everyday tasks and low-power activities, anyone who can get over the port and power limitations should still find a lot of usage out of the 12-inch MacBook in its third generation.

The Verge:

The big question a lot of people are asking is whether the little MacBook is finally over that power hump that's kept users from switching over to it. I sadly cannot answer that for you, but my hunch is that the basic calculus isn't going to change. If you need speed, get a MacBook Pro or a Windows PC or maybe even a MacBook Air.

CNET:

The improved keyboard and the faster CPU options feel like a real step forward, although the system is still not quite as updated as we'd like.

You're still stuck with the same not-great 480p webcam, and there's just that single USB-C port for all your power and connectivity needs, which will be a deal-breaker for many. But if you can work with those limitations, this is the best version of the 12-inch MacBook yet.

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Article Link: iMac and MacBook Early Reviews: Iterative Updates With Welcome Performance Boosts

 

[DrumApple]

Kind of stupid for them to send the m3 version of the 12" MB, the biggest difference is getting an i5/7 in there and 16gb ram. Would have really liked another port, and updated Retina display that can reach the same brightness as the Pro.

 

[Dilster3k]

MacBook needs TB3, become cheaper to phase out the dying Air.

MacBook Pro needs 32 GB of Ram, and a space black option please.
(Bring back Magsafe + SD card slot)

iMac needs to get rid of that chin, aim for the Thunderbolt Display design.

All in 2018 hopefully, but good midway updates for now.

 

[happydude]

just ordered the 27" with the i7. looking forward to an updated machine! current old beast is from 2007 that we've swapped out some internals over the years but it's time to put it out to pasture. we're more than ready for the new kid on the block!

 

[Moi Ici]

Kind of stupid for them to send the m3 version of the 12" MB, the biggest difference is getting an i5/7 in there and 16gb ram. Would have really liked another port, and updated Retina display that can reach the same brightness as the Pro.

Yes, strange not to send out the top tier one.

Though from reading about intel's naming of their Kaby lake processors, this i7 & i5 is not quite the same i5 & i7 as we would be lead to believe. Apparently it's quite confusing with all the different tweaked processors with similar names but not similar performance.
The proof of the pudding (processor) will be in the real life performance.

 

[Labeno]

No mag safe!!!

 

[BornAgainMac]

I am glad they updated the keyboard on the Macbook. Didn't see any mention on Apple.com or the Keynote about the keyboard. I am curious what the benchmarks in both performance and battery life will show with the watered down i7 in it.

 

[Jack Burton]

I wonder how much of the noticeable improvement on the iMac comes from the faster SSD, and how much comes from the faster GPU. Because that CPU ain't all that much faster.

But perhaps coupled with the faster SSD and GPU, the CPU can sing a bit more.

 

[alexgowers]

I don't know what Apple has against removing or reducing bezels. It seems like they went super slim but totally ignored the huge black bars around the display! This current MacBook should be replacing the air by now, do it in two sizes and put in thunderbolt 3. Take the design and make it cheaper so that iPads and macs overlap.

Update the tower and Mac mini! Workstation folks ain't buying no iMac pro.

 

[satchmo]

The MacBook should be much cheaper by now.
Plus that 480p FaceTime camera is an embarassment in 2017.

Make it $999 and $1199 and get rid of the MacBook Air.
Cleans up the product matrix as well.

 

[manu chao]

Does anybody has any idea why Apple still sells the iMac with a maximum HDD (as part of the Fusion Drive) of 3 TB? A 3 TB Fusion Drive was first offered in the 2012 iMac. Five years without an adjustment in the sizes offered? I don't expect them to offer 8 or 10 TB drives. But what about 5 or 6 TB drives?

Does the Fusion Drive become less efficient for larger HDD sizes? Or is it simply that Apple thinks that the vast majority of consumers will be fine with 3 TB? And that people who need more than 3 TB are professionals who would want to use a RAID anyway?

 

[commander.data]

How big is the SSD cache in the Fusion Drives? Is Apple still using the cut back 24GB size with the 1 TB Fusion Drive? Hopefully the 3 TB Fusion Drive is still paired with a 128GB SSD.

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

Fully loaded iMac cost $5.3K

 

[xgman]

I wonder how much of the noticeable improvement on the iMac comes from the faster SSD, and how much comes from the faster GPU. Because that CPU ain't all that much faster.

But perhaps coupled with the faster SSD and GPU, the CPU can sing a bit more.

And also the faster speed ddr 4 ram.

 

[Scott6666]

No mag safe!!!

You're only a few years too late. I think we've accepted this by now.

 

[nelsonammo]

They're all still so expensive. They should cut the prices of the MB and MBP and discontinue the MBA.

Take a look at the Mac lineup. It's their lowest selling category of products and it's split into SEVEN different product categories. MB, MBA, MBP, iMac, iMac Pro, Mac Pro and Mac Mini. What a mess.

 

[D.T.]

Magic Keyboard! Full sized and wireless, +finally+

 

[Labeno]

You're only a few years too late. I think we've accepted this by now.

Yikes... you gave in. Apple without SJ is slowly jedi mind tricking people, and you gave in. I'm not talking about some out dated technology. A 1000 years from now, if there is some product tethered to some cord, it will be awesome to have some simple release mechanism like mag safe so you don't break the product when you forget to remove the tethering. Tim Cook took that away from us. Let me know if I'm conceptually wrong, and I'll stop complaining.

 

[fokmik]

the second gen butterfly keys are a lot better even from 2016 MBP. the warm keys sound are gone !
i recommend if you have to choose between m3 + 16 gb ram and i5 +8 gb ram to forget about the m3 and go with i5 and 8 gb ram

 

[bigpics]

The MacBook should be much cheaper by now.
Plus that 480p FaceTime camera is an embarassment in 2017.

Make it $999 and $1199 and get rid of the MacBook Air.
Cleans up the product matrix as well.

You can keep the one port pink book. It's still more fetish object than useful personal computer IMHO.

A higher res screen, modern processor and 16GB would get me to upgrade my Air in a nano-second while I wait for 32GB Pro to come around and be the ultimate portable work machine I've been waiting for - for years now - I guess in 2018 or 19..... ...wide bezels, "huge weight" (who remembers the first Compaq "luggable" or Kaypro, lolz) and all.....

 

[azentropy]

Don't really care that they didn't do a redesign as I think the current one is still beautiful. I do wish however they would have updated the stand to make it height adjustable. I have a high desk and the 27" as is is just too high for my taste. I know there is a VESA option, but then I'm stuck special ordering that only from Apple I believe.

 

[aaronhead14]

I hope Apple keeps doing these yearly Mac updates.

 

[jclardy]

I still have a 2015 MacBook 12", I got one thing I wanted, but not the other. They keyboard was the first - the new touchbar rMBP keyboard is way better then first gen, and the second was either upgrading the port to Thunderbolt 3 or adding a second port on the other side (or ideally, both.) I have a thunderbolt raid array I use with my desktop, but it sucks that I have to use the network to transfer things to my little MacBook and I can't take advantage of the speed it has.

This seems like the last primarily spec bump update for this model and next year will bring the 12" MacBook v2 redesign.

 

[Appleaker]

Does anybody has any idea why Apple still sells the iMac with a maximum HDD (as part of the Fusion Drive) of 3 TB? A 3 TB Fusion Drive was first offered in the 2012 iMac. Five years without an adjustment in the sizes offered? I don't expect them to offer 8 or 10 TB drives. But what about 5 or 6 TB drives?

Does the Fusion Drive become less efficient for larger HDD sizes? Or is it simply that Apple thinks that the vast majority of consumers will be fine with 3 TB? And that people who need more than 3 TB are professionals who would want to use a RAID anyway?

I think they'll keep it at 3TB so they can increase SSD storage and push people towards those ridiculous prices. With the 21.5", they've removed the 2TB Fusion Drive so the maximum is 1TB, and the maximum Flash storage is 1TB.
[doublepost=1496865569][/doublepost]

I am glad they updated the keyboard on the Macbook. Didn't see any mention on Apple.com or the Keynote about the keyboard. I am curious what the benchmarks in both performance and battery life will show with the watered down i7 in it.

Technically it's not a watered down i7, it's actually clocked a bit higher than the standard 1.3GHz speed of that i7. But in terms of i7 processors in general, of course it's not as powerful.

 

[Bug-Creator]

Fully loaded iMac cost $5.3K

Now you only need a can of dark grey paint

In the process of ordering a maxed out 12" (1.4/16/512) in spacegrey.

North of 2000€ around here