We know that Apple pays attention to forums and MacRumors is one of the most popular fan websites. So objective of this thread is to show Apple that there is still enough interest in this fanless ultraportable to bring it back when suitable processor is available, either ARM or Intel. After all, this was the lightest Macbook ever made. For those who need full MacOS next Mac in lineup is 38% heavier and has a fan.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Should Apple bring Macbook 12 back? Poll
- Thread starter radiologyman
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
IMO it's less about the processor. Because that probably would and still is available. And it certainly wasn't about due to lack of colors. Previously offering a range of 4 colors suggests to me that the MacBook was conceived to target the mainstream market - more than it eventually ended up doing so.
If and when they bring it back, it should first and foremost come at suitable price point and offering of ports.
Paying premium prices for a MacBook with just one single port(non-headphone, that is, and less than any other Mac) and the weakest processor is neither.
If and when they bring it back, it should first and foremost come at suitable price point and offering of ports.
Paying premium prices for a MacBook with just one single port(non-headphone, that is, and less than any other Mac) and the weakest processor is neither.
Even though I loved the MacBook 12, I voted no.
They should reintroduce it as a newer 12.5"-13" model (via reduced bezels), two USB-C TB ports, and the latest low power processors while keeping the fanless design.
They should reintroduce it as a newer 12.5"-13" model (via reduced bezels), two USB-C TB ports, and the latest low power processors while keeping the fanless design.
I'd say yes BUT as a £850 model - something that you can afford. The £1250 UK price for the 256GB model was very hard to swallow and a hard sell to friends who'd love a Mac but it was now out of their league price wise.
However, the range does look better now with just two to choose from although the Air is £100 over priced in each spec. The MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (that I LOVE) looks the far nicer model in every way.
I love the Apple line up right now - iPhone XS, iPad Pro and MacBook Pro.
However, the range does look better now with just two to choose from although the Air is £100 over priced in each spec. The MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (that I LOVE) looks the far nicer model in every way.
I love the Apple line up right now - iPhone XS, iPad Pro and MacBook Pro.
I've long been a lover of small-screened laptops, going back many, many years. A 12" PowerBook G4 got me all through college and my first couple years of substitute teaching. After that, when I went into IT work, a 12" ThinkPad X201 was my constant companion. When I went back into teaching, an 11" Air saw me through the first four years of full-time teaching. And this past year, I've been experimenting with different laptops to use to replace the old Air, finally settling on the 12" MacBook. I'd tried using a 13" MacBook Pro, but as space on my desk is at a premium, I much prefer the smallest laptop I can get away with. Plus, the weight of the 12" is lovely in my bag.
I do wish they'd bring it back in some form; I was mildly disappointed to see it go away! I have a 2016 that I'm using for school this year, and a 2017 that I have for my own personal use.
I do wish they'd bring it back in some form; I was mildly disappointed to see it go away! I have a 2016 that I'm using for school this year, and a 2017 that I have for my own personal use.
More choice is always better (well, up to a point anyway) but I think they possibly want to push the iPad Pro into this territory - with iPad OS it becomes a lot more viable for the sort of browsing and office productivity the MB was best suited to.
The 10th-generation Ice Lake Y chips are now 9-12W vs. 5W. While they all come equipped with Thunderbolt 3, and include both dual-core and quad-core options, my guess is that Apple couldn’t use them in the MacBook’s thermal envelope. Given that the current MacBook Air uses a 7W Amber Lake Y chip, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if they update it next year (or even later this year) with the 10-generation Ice Lake chips. Otherwise, the Air makes no sense to me. It is downright average size for a notebook (and not much lighter than the much better 13” Pro), and uses a 7W chip while Dell, HP, and others use 15W chips in similar designs.
It would be nice if Apple revived an 11.6” MacBook Air, perhaps slightly thicker than the 12” MacBook to accommodate the active cooling, but lighter than the 13” MacBook Air. The old 11.6” was 2.3 lbs.
... yes, and as a MacPad.
... with macOS installed it becomes a no-brainer.
I am still holding onto my 2013 11-inch MBA. I was hoping to get one of the MacBooks, but I really wanted more storage than 512GB (a second port would have been nice too, but the storage was what held me back). It doesn't matter to me whether it's got a fan or not, but I would like to see something with a Retina display, two (or more) ports, preferably TB though just USB-C is okay, 1TB storage, and under 2.5 pounds.
Yes! Definitely, especially since they already deep sixed the 11” air. I love how small and light the 12” is. Compared to it the new 13” air and the MacBook Pro are like bricks!
There use to be a time when you paid more for smaller things because of their rarity. This is that. The MacBook is the only model I think worth its price. I love it. I’d hope they’d bring it back with everything the same except a second USB port a bezel free design.
It weights as an IPad but can do MacOS and Windows with full size keyboard. Newer processor should be able to accommodate second port and cellular modem on same chip, among other things. Bezelless design is already being implemented across the board. So next year Apple can bring it back without limitations of older models, possibly with slightly thicker body to fit in butterfly keyboard. Will be an instant buy for me.
Last edited:
If they do bring it back.... it should be with a fan
According to Louis Rossmann.... MacBook’s cooks themselves to death🤷🏾♂️
According to Louis Rossmann.... MacBook’s cooks themselves to death🤷🏾♂️
More power and higher spe processor will of course generate heat thus even the best casing designs will definitely need a fan to cool it off. Well unless you can live with slow processor and meagre graphic cards that wont be generating much heat ....
While Intel failed so far to make upgraded CPU with low thermal requirements, Apple’s own ARM processors are already very capable to power a fanless MacBook given their outstanding performance in IPads. Kuo predicted such MacBook is in the works to be released in 2020.
Last edited:
If it does it should go back to it's original intent as a budget model with good performance. Back to a bulkier and cheaper case, u series CPU, user upgrades, TN/VA panel, &c. Perhaps this could use the A14 next year.
The MBA should reclaim it's namesake as being the lightest and get down to prior MB weight. Plus have an 11" option again. Perhaps they can do this with Intel's 2020 10nm offerings. As the current 14nm generates too much heat. Intel doesn't have a faster CPU than what came in the MB at the same TDP. Perhaps this could use the A14 next year. ARM chips especially Apple's crush Intel in the low power segment.
The MBP should eschew some slimness for a larger battery, better cooling, user upgrades, 4K OLED panel (optional) and higher performing GPU and CPU. Definitely needs to keep using an Intel CPU until pro apps are on ARM.
All should get a new keyboard.
The MBA should reclaim it's namesake as being the lightest and get down to prior MB weight. Plus have an 11" option again. Perhaps they can do this with Intel's 2020 10nm offerings. As the current 14nm generates too much heat. Intel doesn't have a faster CPU than what came in the MB at the same TDP. Perhaps this could use the A14 next year. ARM chips especially Apple's crush Intel in the low power segment.
The MBP should eschew some slimness for a larger battery, better cooling, user upgrades, 4K OLED panel (optional) and higher performing GPU and CPU. Definitely needs to keep using an Intel CPU until pro apps are on ARM.
All should get a new keyboard.
In some form yes. The ultra portable works well for me I walk to work and am carrying it constantly. I’m mainly an office suite user so I don’t need a ton of power. I’d buy a refreshed MacBook today with slightly more power (it does drive me crazy how long word takes to open) and a better keyboard. That being said I’d probably be happy with an 11 Mb air. But the current airs are just to to bulky for my use
What an absurd generalisation. Can only have been written by a someone who has never used one.