What to Expect in the Third Generation MacBook

[bigjnyc]

Came here to say the opposite of this - thought since it wasn't included yesterday we may be seeing a bigger update. Didn't realize this is how it went last year too... Crap, man.

EDIT: Nevermind, it wasn't two silent updates last year. My point stands, although I agree there isn't necessarily a reason we wouldn't see two silent updates one after another besides the precedent... Here's to hoping for a larger update.

I wouldn't get my hopes up sorry. the rumor mill would have been buzzing if a large update was coming.... We haven't heard anything much like last year... I would expect a minor spec bump, maybe 16gb ram option and maybe a lower price, but not much else.

 

[- rob -]

You can't will the semiconductor industry forward. I have tried using my mind powers but so far...nothing.

I am probably going to lean in on whatever gets released.

I'm coming from a MBA 11". Tried the new mbp and it was too big / too expensive / too fiddly w the tb / battery did not deliver.

I want a better air 11 and this seems like the only route ahead.

 

[moxxey]

EDIT: Nevermind, it wasn't two silent updates last year.

Even the 2016 MB launch wasn't "silent". I bought the 2015 and 2016 edition and there was a far amount of pre-launch speculation about the 2016 MB and we sort of knew what was coming and roughly when.

For the 2017 launch, we know very little. There's not been any website rumour on the 2017 MB for the last two months, so nothing coming from the factories. Even if it was going to be a 'silent' release, we should know roughly a) what's going to be in the 2017 model and b) the rough release - it's April end of this week!

Let's face it, all this talk of 16GB of ram etc, is very unlikely to happen. We're either going to get an incredibly low-key update (Kaby Lake CPU change) *or* the 2017 MB has been pushed back until later in the year.

 

[Dave245]

Even the 2016 MB launch wasn't "silent". I bought the 2015 and 2016 edition and there was a far amount of pre-launch speculation about the 2016 MB and we sort of knew what was coming and roughly when.

For the 2017 launch, we know very little. There's not been any website rumour on the 2017 MB for the last two months, so nothing coming from the factories. Even if it was going to be a 'silent' release, we should know roughly a) what's going to be in the 2017 model and b) the rough release - it's April end of this week!

Let's face it, all this talk of 16GB of ram etc, is very unlikely to happen. We're either going to get an incredibly low-key update (Kaby Lake CPU change) *or* the 2017 MB has been pushed back until later in the year.

There are rumours and we do know based on those rumours what's likely to be released with the 2017 12" MacBook, a processor bump and a higher end 16GB Ram option, this came from the very reliable Ming-Chi-Kuo so I would give it more credit.

 

[navaira]

2nd gen keyboard like in rMBP?

 

[HellasLEAF]

Any news/rumors? This cash if burning a hole in my pocket... I'm starting to think we may not see the update until June this year. My 2009 MBP is getting pretty slow but still chugging along.

Waiting to see what the latest offering is myself before deciding on older gen 12 inch and save some money or go all in on 3rd gen (if they hit that sweet spot).

In truth all I want is rMBP keyboard but will settle for kaby plus 16.

Not holding my breath on extra ports will never happen with this machine imo and that's ok.

 

[kiranmk2]

Even the 2016 MB launch wasn't "silent". I bought the 2015 and 2016 edition and there was a far amount of pre-launch speculation about the 2016 MB and we sort of knew what was coming and roughly when.

For the 2017 launch, we know very little. There's not been any website rumour on the 2017 MB for the last two months, so nothing coming from the factories. Even if it was going to be a 'silent' release, we should know roughly a) what's going to be in the 2017 model and b) the rough release - it's April end of this week!

Let's face it, all this talk of 16GB of ram etc, is very unlikely to happen. We're either going to get an incredibly low-key update (Kaby Lake CPU change) *or* the 2017 MB has been pushed back until later in the year.

The only indication that the 2016 model was coming was the discovery of an 'early 2016' mention on an Apple support page/OS X beta. There were some people on here arguing until minutes before the press release went out that there would be no update!

All the (realistic) rumours point towards a potential 'early 2017' model dropping via press release again as a new CPU/GPU that is <10% faster then before and a new keyboard are hardly press-conference-worthy.

There won't be any other major changes till Cannonlake later in the year when TB3 and USB3.1 support get built in rather than needing another chip and we could see a bigger boost in performance thanks to the 10 nm process so I would say it would be pointless to release an rMB update much later in the year as I think Apple will want to get the Cannonlake model out much earlier in the cycle.

 

[Mac 128]

The only indication that the 2016 model was coming was the discovery of an 'early 2016' mention on an Apple support page/OS X beta. There were some people on here arguing until minutes before the press release went out that there would be no update!

All the (realistic) rumours point towards a potential 'early 2017' model dropping via press release again as a new CPU/GPU that is <10% faster then before and a new keyboard are hardly press-conference-worthy.

There won't be any other major changes till Cannonlake later in the year when TB3 and USB3.1 support get built in rather than needing another chip and we could see a bigger boost in performance thanks to the 10 nm process so I would say it would be pointless to release an rMB update much later in the year as I think Apple will want to get the Cannonlake model out much earlier in the cycle.

If they do drop the headphone jack for a second port, be it USB-C or Lightning, this would be the way to do it, in a quiet press-release with a spec bump.

 

[HellasLEAF]

If they do drop the headphone jack for a second port, be it USB-C or Lightning, this would be the way to do it, in a quiet press-release with a spec bump.

I would bet any amount of money that the 12 inch will never see a 2nd port. Will never happen. That laptop will forever be single USB-C.

 

[Mac 128]

I would bet any amount of money that the 12 inch will never see a 2nd port. Will never happen. That laptop will forever be single USB-C.

I'm not willing to make that gamble, because Apple is incredibly unpredictable, and woefully inconsistent as of late. That said, it seems perfectly reasonable that Apple would eventually phase out the headphone jack on all of its products, and add a second port of some kind, even if it were a Smart Connector, in its place. It's still a Mac, but one of which had to make a decision between a headphone jack and a second port. And right now, Apple has offered no way to use a Lightning headphone on USB-C, or even accommodate USB-C headphones. At some point that's going to be necessary. Once that happens, there's no reason to keep the headphone jack, and no reason to limit a Mac user's options, especially when they will likely need to offer an ancillary port for connection of wired audio -- so just like the marketing for the USB-C port: as long as they are adding a port to charge the Mac, why not make it the most versatile port possible; the same rationale applies here.

 

[Fravin]

Just another USB C port...

 

[ascender]

Surely it will just be a spec bump? Apple's vision for this laptop is pretty clear - one USB-C port and a headphone port is consistent with it being their ultra-portable offering with a retina screen. If you want more ports, you go for the new MBP which has obviously shrunk in form factor this time around.

 

[kiranmk2]

I'm pretty confident it will get a 2nd USB-C port and a redesign when CannonLake hits (either end of this year or early next year). A new 10 nm process together with likely inbuilt support for USB3.1 gen 2 and TB3 means that there could be more liklihood of getting a second (fully functional) port. After all, the MBA eventually added extra ports on later revisions.

 

[Mac 128]

Surely it will just be a spec bump? Apple's vision for this laptop is pretty clear - one USB-C port and a headphone port is consistent with it being their ultra-portable offering with a retina screen. If you want more ports, you go for the new MBP which has obviously shrunk in form factor this time around.

This is only true if Apple commits to supporting the 3.5mm headphone jack on everything but the iPhone, which I doubt. If they eventually remove the headphone jack from all products, then they will likely replace it on the MB with a multi-function port, that will serve as a headphone jack.

I'm pretty confident it will get a 2nd USB-C port and a redesign when CannonLake hits (either end of this year or early next year). A new 10 nm process together with likely inbuilt support for USB3.1 gen 2 and TB3 means that there could be more liklihood of getting a second (fully functional) port. After all, the MBA eventually added extra ports on later revisions.

MBA had the room to add it. The MB does not, unless they remove the headphone jack, which they very well may.

 

[Andres Cantu]

I don't see it getting a second USB-C port. That would cannibalize the entry-level MacBook Pro.

 

[tommyhobbes]

When is this thing supposed to release? I'm having trouble restraining myself from just buying the 2016 m5 512GB...

 

[- rob -]

When is this thing supposed to release? I'm having trouble restraining myself from just buying the 2016 m5 512GB...

Last year it was April 19

 

[navaira]

When is this thing supposed to release? I'm having trouble restraining myself from just buying the 2016 m5 512GB...

*looks at Buyer's Guide* 2025.

I did buy the m5/512 a week ago. Open box, even with a monitor with built-in hub it cost me less than Apple charges for base model. Wish it was rose gold, but that would cost me extra 480 euros and I don't like the colour THAT much. I'm only going to be irritated if the new one drops in price 500 euro and it's significantly better.

 

[keeper]

Sorry i've let track of CPU's and i'm looking at replacing my 2012 Mac Book Pro with a newer machine for light duties only.

Would the new Mac Book deliver a performance increase over an 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 with 8gig ram?

Other than being smaller with the latest USB do i gain anything?

 

[ascender]

When is this thing supposed to release? I'm having trouble restraining myself from just buying the 2016 m5 512GB...

If you need one, just go for it. Have you considered a refurb machine too which will save you some $$$?

Personally I think products like the Macbook aren't going to receive any revolutionary updates - its likely going to be faster components - but given the sort of user that this laptop is aimed at, I don't think a slightly faster one is going to be a dealbreaker for most? If you really need a more powerful laptop because you're going to push it, the MBP is probably the way to go.

 

[tommyhobbes]

If you need one, just go for it. Have you considered a refurb machine too which will save you some $$$?

Personally I think products like the Macbook aren't going to receive any revolutionary updates - its likely going to be faster components - but given the sort of user that this laptop is aimed at, I don't think a slightly faster one is going to be a dealbreaker for most? If you really need a more powerful laptop because you're going to push it, the MBP is probably the way to go.

It's supposed to have the newest processor from Intel right? Do we know roughly what kind of quantitative clockspeed and battery life improvements that would translate to in real-world usage?

All I really want from the newer one is a second USB-C port or Touch ID (not even the touch bar), preferably both.

 

[bigjnyc]

It's supposed to have the newest processor from Intel right? Do we know roughly what kind of quantitative clockspeed and battery life improvements that would translate to in real-world usage?

All I really want from the newer one is a second USB-C port or Touch ID (not even the touch bar), preferably both.

I don't think you're going to get any of those in the new macbook. But with apple you never know, I just wouldn't get my hopes up.

 

[bill-p]

I'm not willing to make that gamble, because Apple is incredibly unpredictable, and woefully inconsistent as of late. That said, it seems perfectly reasonable that Apple would eventually phase out the headphone jack on all of its products, and add a second port of some kind, even if it were a Smart Connector, in its place. It's still a Mac, but one of which had to make a decision between a headphone jack and a second port. And right now, Apple has offered no way to use a Lightning headphone on USB-C, or even accommodate USB-C headphones. At some point that's going to be necessary. Once that happens, there's no reason to keep the headphone jack, and no reason to limit a Mac user's options, especially when they will likely need to offer an ancillary port for connection of wired audio -- so just like the marketing for the USB-C port: as long as they are adding a port to charge the Mac, why not make it the most versatile port possible; the same rationale applies here.

The 2nd USB-C port won't come. The hardware underneath does not have the bandwidth to sustain 2 USB-C ports with the same functionality (meaning either one can be used for connecting an external display + maintain USB 3.1/3.0 transfer speed).

So it won't come due to hardware limitations more so than anything that has to do with "predictability".

And unless Intel can stuff a Thunderbolt 3.0 controller into Cannon Lake or whatever that comes in 2018, the situation will remain the same by then as well: single USB-C port.

It's clear how they are positioning the MacBook. If you need more ports (or more than one, that is), the MacBook Pro is the way to go.

 

[Mac 128]

I don't see it getting a second USB-C port. That would cannibalize the entry-level MacBook Pro.

Except the entry level MBP is not a permanent product -- it's a transitional product until Apple can afford to offer the TouchBar on the entry level MBP. Moreover, the MB is still considerably smaller and lighter than the MBP, so it's unlikely to cannibalize a larger, heavier product, especially one that is several hundred dollars more expensive.

But are you suggesting that Apple will never remove the headphone jack? Or if they do, there will be no new port to replace it?

 

[tommyhobbes]

The 2nd USB-C port won't come. The hardware underneath does not have the bandwidth to sustain 2 USB-C ports with the same functionality (meaning either one can be used for connecting an external display + maintain USB 3.1/3.0 transfer speed).

So it won't come due to hardware limitations more so than anything that has to do with "predictability".

And unless Intel can stuff a Thunderbolt 3.0 controller into Cannon Lake or whatever that comes in 2018, the situation will remain the same by then as well: single USB-C port.

It's clear how they are positioning the MacBook. If you need more ports (or more than one, that is), the MacBook Pro is the way to go.

Interesting, what are your thoughts on TouchID coming to the 12" MacBook?