New 12-Inch Retina MacBook is Between 5% and 18% Faster Than 2015 Model

[MacRumors]

As customers begin receiving the new 12-inch Retina MacBook, more benchmark results for the Early 2016 model have been uploaded to Geekbench.

Based on the results, the new Skylake-based 12-inch MacBook models are between 5% and 18% faster than the original Broadwell-based models depending on whether you purchase the low-end 1.1GHz, mid-tier 1.2GHz, or top-end built-to-order 1.3GHz model. Geekbench scores vary and were therefore averaged.

The low-end Skylake-based 1.1GHz Intel Core m3 configuration earned average 64-bit single-core and multi-core scores of 2,534 and 5,025 respectively, which is between 5% and 10% faster CPU performance than the equivalent Broadwell-based 1.1GHz 12-inch MacBook released in 2015.

Geekbench 3 results for low-end 1.1GHz model​

Geekbench results for the mid-tier Skylake-based 1.2GHz Intel Core m5 configuration surfaced last week, with the model earning single-core and multi-core scores of 2,894 and 5,845 respectively, which is between 15% and 18% faster than the equivalent Broadwell-based 1.2GHz model from 2015.

Geekbench 3 results for built-to-order 1.3GHz model​

Meanwhile, the top-end Skylake-based 1.3GHz Intel Core m7 built-to-order configuration earned average 64-bit single-core and multi-core scores of 3,023 and 6,430 respectively, which is between 9% and 17% faster than the equivalent Broadwell-based 1.3GHz model released in 2015.

The 12-inch MacBook is now widely available for $1,299 (1.1 GHz) or $1,599 (1.2GHz), while the 1.3GHz processor is an optional $150 to $250 upgrade. Early reviews find much improved SSD performance, but the lack of ports, a 480p FaceTime camera, and no DDR4 RAM are viewed as drawbacks by some customers.

Article Link: New 12-Inch Retina MacBook is Between 5% and 18% Faster Than 2015 Model

 

[levitynyc]

Still with a garbage camera and about $400 overpriced. No thanks.

 

[_mdavenport]

And needs to be between 5% and 18% cheaper

 

[Spanky Deluxe]

Wow, what a time to be alive! /s

 

[LordVic]

And yet, The one thing MacRumors articles on performance HAVEN'T ADDRESSED is thermal throttling in real world usage that the 2015 broadwell suffered heavily from.

under sustained, high load, such as outputting jobs from photoshop / lightroom, or movie producing, the Core M in the 2015 throttles up to 70% of the performance.

So i'm curious how much better the new CPU handles this compared to the old, or if Apple fixed the cooling.

 

[justperry]

Another Macbook article, seems like a slow news day.

 

[manhattanboy]

And yet, The one thing MacRumors articles on performance HAVEN'T ADDRESSED is

What is taking so long for Apple to give us decent Skylake updates for the MBA and MBP.

 

[vmachiel]

Well, you can't beat physics. And the growth in CPU speed has been declining for a while now. Moore's law is under pressure.

 

[LordVic]

What is taking so long for Apple to give us decent Skylake updates for the MBA and MBP.

OK, OK, NOBODY expects the Apple INquisition.. the TWO things that MacRumors articles never discuss

1. Thermal Throttling
2. Lack of revisions to MBA / MBPs
3. 3 year old Mac Pro's that seem forgotten

OK, thats THREE THINGS

 

[psymac]

Looks to me the 1.3 M7 is the best value overall, including resale.

 

[gugy]

Like this MB but it is just expensive for what it offers.
I can't wait to see the upcoming rMBP 13". If Apple doesn't cripple it, it should be the best deal in terms of power and portability.

 

[maflynn]

All in all, I am impressed with how Apple is providing a fast computer with passive cooling. Yeah, 5 percent is not all that much but when you consider the computer has no fan, I'll take any speed enhancement

 

[jcmeyer5]

All in all, I am impressed with how Apple is providing a fast computer with passive cooling. Yeah, 5 percent is not all that much but when you consider the computer has no fan, I'll take any speed enhancement

Your wallet thanks you... no wait...

 

[4jasontv]

So, wait. The low end model is 5% faster than the previous generations high end model? That's pretty impressive cost : performance improvement.

 

[a.gomez]

Yeah, that last benchmark is useless on its own. That is 1,550 for the 256 - those numbers not worth that kind of money. Unless they fix the throttling because of heat, you wont see those numbers anyway. Same crap as my 1st gen Macbook Air, once it got hot it was a mess.

 

[maflynn]

Your wallet thanks you... no wait...

I never said I was getting one - too expensive for my taste, I'm just impressed with the technology

 

[jayducharme]

Would a 5-18% increase even be noticeable in normal usage?

 

[Junior117]

It's interesting that we're basically seeing a repeat of what the MacBook Air has experienced:

Apple announces the MacBook Air and people go up in arms, saying it's too weak, there's very little ports, the design is meh, and the price is too dang high, and some competitor makes a computer JUST to take the "thinnest computer" crown from Apple. Then Apple releases some (very) small updates and people still complain.

Here, Apple releases the new MacBook and people go up in arms, saying it's too weak, there's very little ports, the design is meh, and the price is too dang high, and some competitor makes a computer JUST to take the "thinnest computer" crown from Apple. Then Apple releases a (very) small update and people still complain.

The MacBook Air got a major update and (mostly) everyone's happy with the speed, design, I/O (or at least gets used to it), and price, and pretty much becomes the standard now. It's stuff like this that prevents me from complaining; I very highly doubt the MacBook won't go through the same lane.

 

[MH01]

Would a 5-18% increase even be noticeable in normal usage?

Under normal usage. no.

CPU intensive work, yup.

 

[Johnny907]

What is taking so long for Apple to give us decent Skylake updates for the MBA and MBP.

What took so long for them to release the rMB update? By all accounts it was set to rollout with the new iPad's and the SE back in March, so why the month long delay? Who knows what happens in the House of Cook and Ive these days. Word is the rMBP refresh will launch either shortly before or during WWDC, which jives with past behavior.

 

[ConnYoungy]

5% seems a bit...lame, no?

 

[kironin]

Have to say, still very happy with my 11-inch MacBook Air (1.7 GHz i7 Mid 2013) and not seeing any compelling reason here to change. I like having two USB3 ports and the video port.

 

[Barry Bishop]

Why havent we heard about the FCPX rumors from NAB? No one likes the new released laptop...at least not the majority, so lets get some rumors going. This is MAC RUMORS after all.

 

[patent10021]

GPU aside, is there a legit reason why these can't perform as 'fast' as MBPs? When traveling internationally for work the MBP really is quite heavy. Obviously super light compared to 10 years ago but I'd love to have a MBP the size of a MB.

 

[magicschoolbus]

People are overreacting to this laptop.