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Retailers are running out of 12-inch MacBooks, refresh (hopefully with more USB) likely soon

macbook-12-inch-retina-1

[UPDATE April 19: New models unveiled including rose gold.]

Is Apple planning to refresh its 12-inch MacBook? Best Buy is currently listing all models of the device as unavailable on its website leading some to speculate that Apple could be planning a refresh. 

If the Best Buy listings are indeed a hint at an upcoming refresh— other retailers still list the 12-inch MacBook as in stock— it would come ahead of Apple’s WWDC event typically held in June and often used to introduce new Macs. But it wouldn’t be entirely surprising, as the 12-inch MacBook happens to be one product in Apple’s lineup currently due for an update and Mark reported previously that faster MacBooks were considered for the iPhone SE event in March but likely wouldn’t arrive until April or May. We also reported that Apple was planning new MacBook Pros for sometime later in the year.

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The Best Buy website listings aren’t enough to confirm a MacBook launch before WWDC, but adding to the speculation are references to an “early 2016” 12-inch MacBook discovered in the latest OS X server software. That would seem to indicate a refresh coming before June when WWDC is usually held.

And yet more signs of impending MacBook refreshes: we’ve recently seen a number of discounts over on 9to5Toys including the 12-inch macBook as low as $1250 and deals on MacBook Pro Retina and more.

While WWDC seems like the ideal venue for the next major product announcements, it wouldn’t be the first time Apple does a silent spec update on a MacBook without a press release or event if that’s what ultimately happens. It’s also not a big stretch to imagine the 12-inch MacBook, being Apple’s newest design and likely the future of the MacBook line, would get a relatively minor upgrade this year compared to other MacBooks that could get stage time at WWDC. If that’s the case, we’d expect the usual internal upgrades for the processor options, etc, but we wouldn’t be mad if we also got more USB to accompany the single USB-C port it currently has. 

Earlier this month we compiled the latest intel on the future of Apple’s MacBook lineup, noting that MacBook Air, the 12-inch MacBook, and the Retina MacBook Pros are all approaching or passing the one year mark since being introduced or last updated.

We’ve reached out to Best Buy, Apple, and other retailers for comment.

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Comments

  1. applegetridofsimandjack - 8 years ago

    I’m still going to my local (Brussels) Apple Store every day.

    I ask the Apple employees “Do you still have enough Retina Macbook Pro’s out the back?”
    Apple Store employee says “Yes, we have them in stock, are you interested in buying one?”
    Me: “Not today, can I you set one aside for me so I can pick it up in a week please?”
    Apple Store employee: “That’s not really necessary, we will have them in stock”

    I then pull a mad face and walk out the Apple Store, Apple Store employees be like “Wtf is up with him?”
    Of course I’m always hoping the Apple Store employee tells me “stock is pretty low, you should get one now if you want one, you might have to wait a couple of days or weeks otherwise” which would indicate new Retina Macbook Pro’s are on the way.

  2. coinaphrase - 8 years ago

    I am interested to see what the new Mac models imply for Apple’s vision of Mac vs iPad. The latter now has the two Pro models introduced since the last Mac refresh. I’m sure it has an impact on the market dynamics of choosing between them. Aside from the obvious OS difference, there is a lot of overlap in use cases. Do the iPads now displace the smallest Mac laptops?

    • applegetridofsimandjack - 8 years ago

      Hmm not really I think. I own a Macbook Air and an iPad Air 2 and there are some days when I only take my iPad to work. But there are still many things I need a Mac for like Photoshop, etc. Real desktop apps. I have had iPad Pro for 2 weeks and I really like it, but it’s not like a total new product compared to iPad Air 2. You still need a Mac I believe, even if you use Word all day (Office for iOS doesn’t and never will be as feature-rich as Office for Mac, let alone Office for Windows).

    • acslater017 - 8 years ago

      iPads don’t replace the smallest Macs, but they do offer a light, cheaper Apple computing experience at a price range ($399-799) where Apple doesn’t make traditional laptops.

  3. Neil Billingham - 8 years ago

    Is there a history of releasing hardware around earnings calls? There’s one on the 25th April right?

    • taoprophet420 - 8 years ago

      In 2014 an updated MacBook Air got related 6 days after the earnings. I think some iMacs have also got released in April around the earnings reports.

  4. lepolero - 8 years ago

    I lost track, but does Intel have more powerful/newer versions Core M CPUs since 2015? Current model is painfully slow and thats worse than having just one USB.

    • taoprophet420 - 8 years ago

      Yes they just started shipping in larger quantities.

      “Intel’s new lineup of Core M processors provide up to 10 hours of battery life, between 10%-20% faster CPU performance and up to 40% faster graphics compared to equivalent Broadwell chips.”

      • lepolero - 8 years ago

        thats good news. When using Macbook, I had flashbacks to 1st gen 13″ MBP Retina, which had really weak GPU for handling retina resolution (sub 20fps while scrolling in Safari and so on), Intel delivered 40% faster GPU and problem was solved.

  5. kpom1 - 8 years ago

    I doubt it will have a 2nd USB port. It’s possible they will upgrade the USB-C port to Thunderbolt 3, though.

    • Neil Billingham - 8 years ago

      Thunderbolt 3 is key to me. Then if we get support for external GPU’s in ‘MacOS’ the little MacBook gets interesting:)

  6. aaronbielert700841293 - 8 years ago

    I know in the Cleveland area, most Best Buy’s are very low or have no stock of any Macs left & claim they haven’t received any new stock. Some only have Macbook pro’s and nothing else.

  7. philips9179 - 8 years ago

    What I don’t understand is why they didn’t launch the 12.9 iPad Pro in this form factor with a touch screen, as many blogs have said the iPad Pro is an excellent machine but can be unwieldy and cumbersome

    Could’ve even added OS X as a dual boot (option), now I am dreaming, damn!

  8. AeronPeryton - 8 years ago

    I’m worried that everyone constantly repeating “more USB!” is setting themselves up for disappointment. I think the best chance that there would ever be more USB ports on this model is if the headphone jack gets replaced with a second port opposite the first. But aside all the confidence that iPhone 7 will do this, that’s later this year. Would Apple really make the first 8mm jack cut a MacBook?

    • Neil Billingham - 8 years ago

      For me the one USB-c isn’t a big deal (as long as it is thunderbolt 3 enabled). I’d be surprised if the new MacBook Pros went the same way though, surely more ports would be on those.

  9. I love my MacBook. I actually love the fact I can sync my iPhone & iPad via Bluetooth from iTunes. Wireless is the way to go for everything from here on out.

  10. Hope Apple fixed all the Intel CPU mess (Skylake). Even Microsoft with Surface 4 can’t deliver the battery times accoriding to specs. CPU simply can’t go to low power states. Just google “surface pro 4 skylake issues”. I think this is the main reason why Apple hasn’t released anything with Skylake.

Author

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jordan Kahn

Jordan writes about all things Apple as Senior Editor of 9to5Mac, & contributes to 9to5Google, 9to5Toys, & Electrek.co. He also co-authors 9to5Mac’s Logic Pros series.