Suggestions on a 12" inch 2015-17 Macbook in 2025?

[ARK]

I've wanted to own one of these 12 inch MacBooks since they were introduced (impressed with the form factor) I have an opportunities to pick one up soon off the used market.
I know they aren't the best in terms of specs in 2025 and I've done some limited research, but would like some "real" input from actual users here on the forum about the reliability of these 2015-17 models?

I’m currently using a 2017 Space Grey with 512gb ssd, 16gb ram, and i5 processor for freelance work.

I’m hooked up to a LG Ultrafine 27” 5k display and working fine now for a year with this setup. I’m using Adobe Illustrator to edit labels and packaging for a national retailer. With me being hooked to a monitor I’m rarely interacting with the keyboard so can’t comment on that. I’ve never had problems however. Dont eat around it so debris in the keyboard is never an issue. The battery is sitting around 81%.

It’s not the fastest thing and sometimes goes really slow while doing a teams call with my vendor but otherwise it does what I need. I have been able to share my screen to discuss projects and that worked ok enough.

Like you, I loved the form factor and decided to get one used a couple years ago. Hope this helps.

 

[MultiFinder17]

As much as I like the form factor of the 12" MacBook, it seems likes these machines have a lot of issues... I'm wondering if a 2017 MacBook Air would be more feasible?
I'd go for a M1 MacBook Air in a heartbeat, but this would be a secondary machine and I am on budget.
Suggestions?

If you're looking for something more reliable and likely slightly more performant, then yes, a 2015/2017 Air would be a solid choice. However, you are giving up the Retina display for a much poorer-quality display, so if that is a dealbreaker for you, then you may want to continue to hunt down a 12" rMB. The Air is also larger and heavier, though still not bad to tote around.

I love both of them personally, and myself use a 2016 12" rMB and 2015 11" Air pretty much interchangeably.

 

[rb2112]

I have to agree with most of the comments above, as a collectors item sure.
As an actual computer you plan on using every single day or even a back up computer, absolutely not.
Even assuming you can find one in perfect condition at a reasonable price, let’s say $200, you can also find an M1 MacBook Air for not that much more and it’s going to absolutely destroy that 12 inch MacBook in every aspect. Software support, reliability, speed, everything.

mostly....but not going to destroy it in "every" aspect: portability....I have fit the 12 inch MacBook in coat pockets before. I bicycle with it in a small camelback sheath. So small. It is really cool how they made it that size! I only use it for writing, like MD2433 posted above.

 

[Xand&Roby]

I have to agree with most of the comments above, as a collectors item sure.
As an actual computer you plan on using every single day or even a back up computer, absolutely not.
Even assuming you can find one in perfect condition at a reasonable price, let’s say $200, you can also find an M1 MacBook Air for not that much more and it’s going to absolutely destroy that 12 inch MacBook in every aspect. Software support, reliability, speed, everything.

I had an iMac M4 for 14 days alongside MBr of various years and configurations, I did not feel all this destruction, rather I felt the destruction when the M4 went in bulk for an hour to load a video and when it failed, for 18 hours and 3 attempts, the transfer of two 15 gb folders, which also became extremely hot.

And it is a product with 6 months of life and its native operating system, imagine when it will have to run the fifth version of the operating system from its presentation!

 

[Nychot]

Definitely get a 2017. I have a 2017 with core i5, 8 RAM and 512 SSD. It is an incredible little machine to travel with. It makes my wives 13" M1 MacBook Air seem heavy and huge. It runs Ventura very well. It's fine for web browsing, messaging, email, and other basic apps. Screen is incredible! Get one! Wish they would update this with an Apple M Processor.

I have a 2015 that I bought new in 2016. Used to for a while loved it, but moved on and kept it. Recently restarted it and all is fine, but I'm having the battery replaced. Battery cost $35 on Amazon and $50 for labor.

 

[ignatius345]

mostly....but not going to destroy it in "every" aspect: portability....I have fit the 12 inch MacBook in coat pockets before. I bicycle with it in a small camelback sheath. So small. It is really cool how they made it that size! I only use it for writing, like MD2433 posted above.

That's the use case I bought that machine for back in 2017 or so. Turned out it came with one of the most unpleasant to use keyboards I've ever touched, so I got rid of it. It was like banging on a piece of solid plastic. Later, it turned out they were failing left and right. I nursed my 11" MacBook Air along for several more years waiting for them to start using real keyboards again.

 

[ignatius345]

As much as I like the form factor of the 12" MacBook, it seems likes these machines have a lot of issues... I'm wondering if a 2017 MacBook Air would be more feasible?
I'd go for a M1 MacBook Air in a heartbeat, but this would be a secondary machine and I am on budget.
Suggestions?

Don't buy a 2017 Air. It's going to have a butterfly keyboard, which is well documented to be a piece of crap and you may well just have it fail and then you've thrown your money into the toilet. The special repair program Apple had has ended, and you'll be looking at a repair that would far exceed the value of the machine.

It's also going to have an Intel processor, which means it runs slower, hotter and has 1/2 to 1/3 the battery life of modern MacBook Airs. My advice is to do whatever you can to at least get a used M1 Air.

 

[MultiFinder17]

Don't buy a 2017 Air. It's going to have a butterfly keyboard, which is well documented to be a piece of crap and you may well just have it fail and then you've thrown your money into the toilet. The special repair program Apple had has ended, and you'll be looking at a repair that would far exceed the value of the machine.

It's also going to have an Intel processor, which means it runs slower, hotter and has 1/2 to 1/3 the battery life of modern MacBook Airs. My advice is to do whatever you can to at least get a used M1 Air.

The 2017 Air was a minor refresh of the 2015, still using the old body. The Air went butterfly and Retina in 2018. The 2017 Airs can often be found for around the $100-150 mark if you don't mind a few little blemishes, making them a fantastic deal these days for basic use.

 

[Freedom1]

I've wanted to own one of these 12 inch MacBooks since they were introduced (impressed with the form factor) I have an opportunities to pick one up soon off the used market.
I know they aren't the best in terms of specs in 2025 and I've done some limited research, but would like some "real" input from actual users here on the forum about the reliability of these 2015-17 models?

Had one (2015). Real gold color, not that wimpy Rose-ish Gold Apple uses now. Loved it. Loved the keyboard. Just enough key travel to feel right. Form factor was fabuloso. Throw it in a backpack or briefcase and its always there. Three issues: First, VERY underpowered. I have to run Adobe apps, and it was tough to do. Second, battery life was too short. Third, only had one port. Needed more ports like today's MBA.

However, the M series fixes all three of these issues. Nothing stands in the way of an updated version except the will to do it. They would sell TONS of them.

 

[ignatius345]

The 2017 Air was a minor refresh of the 2015, still using the old body. The Air went butterfly and Retina in 2018. The 2017 Airs can often be found for around the $100-150 mark if you don't mind a few little blemishes, making them a fantastic deal these days for basic use.

Ah, I stand corrected! Thanks for that.

I still would advise most people to get an M1 or better at this point -- but yeah, hard to beat that price for basic usage.

 

[MultiFinder17]

Ah, I stand corrected! Thanks for that.

I still would advise most people to get an M1 or better at this point -- but yeah, hard to beat that price for basic usage.

I’d tend to agree that it’s better to save up $400-500 for an M1, but if the budget is super constrained or it’s being used for fairly basic stuff, an older Air is really an unbeatable deal these days.

 

[ignatius345]

the M series fixes all three of these issues. Nothing stands in the way of an updated version except the will to do it. They would sell TONS of them.

It really seems they've decided to address the ultracompact laptop market with the iPad Pro. Not a fan of that, myself, and I hope they revisit the form factor of the 12" MacBook with modern processors.