Update: Pike’s Universum has done some more digging and discovered which processors Apple plans to use in its 12-inch MacBooks this year:
- Intel® Core™ m3-6Y30 Processor (4M Cache, up to 2.20 GHz)
- Intel® Core™ m5-6Y54 Processor (4M Cache, up to 2.70 GHz)
- Intel® Core™ m7-6Y75 Processor (4M Cache, up to 3.10 GHz)
Earlier this week Apple introduced a new 4-inch iPhone SE, a smaller iPad Pro, and all new Apple Watch bands at its ‘Let us loop you in’ March event. Just as we expected, news about any update in the MacBook line wasn’t announced. But thanks to a tipster, we’re now discovering references to an ‘early 2016’ 12-inch MacBook with Retina display, which is presumably a follow up to the first generation hardware released last April.
Though the news around the 12-inch MacBook update has been quiet, Digitimes recently reported that Apple is preparing a new 13- and 15-inch MacBook for July. Today’s discovery gives us further expectations that a 12-inch MacBook update may be seen in the near future.
Evidence of the 2016 12-inch MacBook is seen within Apple’s own System Image Utility on the Mac, which is where the reference was discovered, and the OS X Server application available in the Mac App Store.
Using the System Image Utility tool, a user can create a Mac OS X image to then install onto other systems. This speeds up system administrators work when having to install and configure multiple computers. One of the options given within the tool is the ability to limit the configured install image to only select Mac models. In this model filtering list, we see the 12” MacBook (Early 2016) as a possible option to select.
A similar Mac model filtering system is seen in the OS X Server application under the NetInstall section. Under here, an administrator could configure an OS X Server to allow networked clients to receive and install OS X images over the local network. (This was a method used at Apple Retail Stores a few years ago to update customer computers.)
An update to the 12-inch MacBook with Retina display would make sense for the near future. Nearly all the MacBooks are approaching their one year mark since their last release or update. As Mark Gurman previously reported, faster MacBooks are expected to debut by this year’s WWDC, with new MacBook Pros coming in the later half of the year.
The 12-inch MacBook is currently available on Amazon with a $100 discount or on Best Buy’s site with a $300 discount. Be sure to keep an eye out on 9to5Toys where deeper discounts are discovered.
Thanks Matt!
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I think the MacBook will just get a silent update, as it always has been with the MacBook Air’s.
Yeah I don’t expect a redesign just yet… -__-
Well that’s pretty much confirmation then. If they’re saying ‘Early’, it must be April or May. Macs introduced at WWDC are labeled ‘Mid’. Either that, or it has been delayed and it will now be at WWDC as ‘Mid 2016’ instead.
Great point.
yah thats what I was thinking too so we might see an earlier release. which would be nice.
I know they don’t want too many SKU’s in the lineup, but not upgrading the Airs to Retina makes no sense to me. It’s a perfect Goldilocks unit – lighter than the Pro’s, more powerful than the MacBook. I *so* need to replace my 2008 MPB, but without a Retina display, there’s no way I’d upgrade to one. The Air is the perfect fit for weight, power, and display if it’s Retina.
Dangit, Tim… make that happen!
I hope the new 13″ and 15″ models are indeed Air’s. The MacBook just doesn’t have enough performance. I still think Apple should go to A series chips for the 12″ MacBook. Especially now with Intel announcing today it is going to a 3 year cycle for its chips and giving up on the tick tock paths they have been on.
The MacBook is essentially the Air, but upgraded. Those upgrades come at a price, unfortunately.
I’m with you. I think they should scrap the Air line, make 12″ and 14″ Retina MacBook’s, and price them fairly.
To me the 12″ Macbook was a proof of concept device. Here we have compact super thin device, with a good full sized keyboard and we will borrow this design cues going forward with our laptops.The power to price for it is just crazy, $1599 for the top model is truly insane.
I would like to see them adopt ARM for the Macbook and do an education model for around $899 or even less. Take the better display tech from the 12.9″ iPad Pro and its chips and put it in the 12″ MacBook.Release ARM supported OS X and the MacBook would be a great ultra portable and great for schools.
I don’t see the advantage in moving to ARM honestly…it doesn’t bring with it any inherent gains.
But yes, I agree. Much like the first MacBook Air was, the MacBook is very much a gen 1 Proof of Concept device, that is insanely priced.
They need to come down to reality with the pricing, and clean up the lineup.
MacBook Air 11″ – $799 base.
MacBook 12″ – $999 base.
MacBook 14″ – $1199 base.
MacBook Pro 13″ – $1299 base.
MacBook Pro 15″ – $1499 base.
That is what I think the lineup should look like going forward, and pricing to match. While I will defend the prices of iOS devices all day long, I feel the Mac continues to gouge users unnecessarily…and that price is more of barrier to entry than a profit machine for Apple.
Just recently a family member, who otherwise owns an old MacBook and newer iPad, purchased a $799 PC desktop from Best Buy because they couldn’t resist the price tag, and they are now completely lost and bitterly disappointed with it….because of course, it runs Windows.
The gains would be the lower price point and a viable education device. Another gain would be Apple being able to dictate when it updates the MacBook instead of waiting for Intel, especially after them announcing the new 3 Year cycle and giving up on the tick tock upgrade path.
I would like to Airs stay as the mid tier MacBook and get retina screens an have 13″ and 15″ and have 14″ and 16″ Pros that are near the footprint of the existing 13 and 15″ models, but have many design cues from the MacBook.
I would go for MacBook12″ $899($799 if they go A series)
MacBook Air Retina 13″ $1049
MacBook Air Retina 15″ $1249
MacBook Pro 14″ $1349
MacBook Pro 16″ $1599
The MacBook is not even close to a MacBook Air. The MacBook is painfully slow compared to any of the Air models, and horribly overpriced for that lack of performance. The MacBook’s performance falls between an iPad Air and iPad Air 2. The MacBook Air and 13″ MacBook Pro Retina both outperform it, and offer so much more. The MacBook Air improved over time with performance increases in CPU and flash memory. The first gen MacBook 12″ is a turd.
12″ spec bump to bring it in line with a new 14″ model?
And what about the skylake MBPs ???
WWDC, redesign and the Skylake chips are just becoming available for them.
Does anyone think that the new MacBooks will have a touch screen? I am really impressed with the Surface Pro 4 and would love similar features offered in the Apple line.
I highly doubt they will Julia. I think will Apple will keep pushing the iPad Pro with Smart Keyboard as the “touch-screen MacBook”.
Both iPads Pros are being promoted as Surface Pro and PC Alternatives, especially if you go to the Experience section of the iPad Pro.
I would like to see Apple’s take on the Surface Book, since the Pro are more of a Surface Pro alternative. Maybe when Apple decides to shrink the bezels on the 12.9″ Pro we will get more of a Surface Book or Surface Pro from Apple.
I still see if you merged the great display and chipset of the 12.9 and the look of the MacBook you would have the perfect ultra portable.
I really wish Apple would release a A Series Macbook. Maybe Intel’s new 3 year chip cycle will give Apple the final the push to design their own chips for at Least some entry level Macs.
In the last year or so, and more so during the Monday keynote, Apple has been banging the drum that the iPad Pro is their expression of the future of personal computing, at least for the mass market. Having an ARM-based Mac would just add confusion and overlap
I see iPad Pros for those that want or need more power but prefer the simplicity of a mobile ecosystem, while Macs are for those that devices that more powerful, flexible and designed to handle more complex computing tasks. Personally, I’d love to see the following
iPad Pro – 9.7″ / 12.9″
MB (or MBA) – 13″ / 15″
MBP – 14″ / 16″
Sorry Julia, but that is a silly gimmick, and no one needs to touch their Mac’s display when they have a track pad like the one Apple builds. Some people tend to forget that the Apple trackpad is about 10 years ahead of everything in the PC industry…an industry that abandoned innovation in trackpads and said “lets just slap a touch screen on everything”.
can haz new skylake macbook pro. kthxbai
I predict silent release for 12 inch updated specs model… as for the redesigned 13 and 15 inch MacBook Pro (with Macbook 12 inch like styling –with more port options — maybe 4 USB-C ports compatible with thunderbolt 3 (2 on each side) and a headphone port) and keep the slimmer Magsafe 2 conector for safe charging, I strongly feel that WWDC 2016 in June will be the platform of choice to launch these devices…
Apple has interesting time frames during the year. Jan-April is early May-Aug is mid and Sep-Dec is late. and because the tag says “early 2016” that means we will probably be seeing the upgrade not at an event and by the end of April. So it will be interesting to see how they release it.
Makes sense. I tried to buy my wife the new MacBook over the weekend at Best Buy (with their $300 off special) and was told that all units at all stores have been sold out for the 256GB model and it has been discontinued in their internal system. The sales rep apologized for not being able to provide/ship one to me and recommended I go to the local Apple store. He seemed surprised that it was discontinued and the Apple Rep wouldn’t comment at the store. I’m guessing it’s a matter of weeks before the new ones come out now..