Apple Discontinued the 12-Inch MacBook Three Years Ago Today

[MacRumors]

Today marks the third anniversary of Apple discontinuing the 12-inch MacBook. The portable notebook was removed from Apple's online store on July 9, 2019 alongside refreshes to the MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro on the same day.

Introduced in March 2015, the 12-inch MacBook featured a thin and light design that weighed just two pounds, and it was also Apple's first fanless notebook. Pricing started at $1,299, with the original model's standard specs including a 1.1GHz dual-core Intel Core M processor, integrated Intel HD Graphics 5300, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD.

Key design aspects of the 12-inch MacBook included a single USB-C port for charging and data transfer, a then-new Force Touch trackpad, and a terraced battery design that allowed for a larger battery to fit inside the notebook's thin chassis.

"Apple has reinvented the notebook with the new MacBook," said Apple's former marketing chief Phil Schiller, in a March 2015 press release. "Every component of the MacBook reveals a new innovation. From its fanless design, ultra-thin Retina display and full-size keyboard that's 34 percent thinner, to its all-new Force Touch trackpad, versatile USB-C port and breakthrough terraced battery design, the new MacBook is the future of the notebook."

Unfortunately, the 12-inch MacBook was also the first MacBook model to feature Apple's infamous butterfly switch keyboard design, which is prone to failure and was eventually dropped from the entire MacBook lineup after years of complaints.

Apple last updated the 12-inch MacBook in June 2017, with the notebook having gone over two years without a hardware refresh before being discontinued.

In hindsight, it is clear that the 12-inch MacBook was hampered by the thermal constraints of Intel processors, with the notebook's thin and light design more appropriate for performant yet power efficient Apple silicon chips. Last month, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple was considering launching an all-new 12-inch notebook by 2024, but it is unclear if the notebook would be branded as a MacBook, MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro. While the 12-inch MacBook was a low-end notebook, Apple also offered a higher-end 12-inch PowerBook G4 in the mid-2000s, prior to the original MacBook Pro being released.

Article Link: Apple Discontinued the 12-Inch MacBook Three Years Ago Today

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

I remember touching one in a store and thinking 'People actually use these?'. It seemed very small, cramped even. More toyish than I expected, but I'm sure it would be tremendous for people that travel a heck of a lot.

 

[Shirasaki]

I wonder, if apple decides to revive this 12” MacBook somehow, which chip would they choose. M3? Considering M2 isn’t power efficient and thermal efficient enough, it’s going to be very interesting to see how M3 would fare.

 

[oreganoinferno]

I'd sell my 2020 MacBook Pro and buy a 12" M2 MacBook instead. It would have sufficient performance & battery life for my daily use, while being considerably lighter and smaller 😎 Always cherished my 12" iBook G4 for those (relative in time) qualities.

 

[GooseInTheCaboose]

Hmm, hoe much larger is the m2 MBA chassi compared to that of the 12” MB?

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

Apples best looking laptop design! Unfortunately it was hampered by bad keyboards and slow processors.

But otherwise, lovely machines!

I remember touching on in a store and thinking 'People actually use these?'. It seemed very small, cramped even. More toyish than I expected, but I'm sure it would be tremendous for people that travel a heck of a lot.

I take mine back and forth daily while commuting (2h a day), and use it for presentations, and yes, the light weight and small size is perfect for that. It would have liked it to be faster, but it definitely does the job.

 

[KPOM]

Hmm, hoe much larger is the m2 MBA chassi compared to that of the 12” MB?

The M2 Air weighs 35% more.

 

[KPOM]

I wonder, if apple decides to revive this 12” MacBook somehow, which chip would they choose. M3? Considering M2 isn’t power efficient and thermal efficient enough, it’s going to be very interesting to see how M3 would fare.

Yes, I think it would be a 3nm chip, assuming a new 12" is branded a MacBook or Air vs. a revived 12" Pro. What might also make sense is a 12.7" Pro (with a notch) to "replace" the existing 13" Pro but in a format smaller than the 13" Air.

 

[darngooddesign]

Hmm, hoe much larger is the m2 MBA chassi compared to that of the 12” MB?

No one has an M2 MBAir yet, but you can google comparisons to the 13" MBAir.

 

[TechRunner]

I loved it in theory, but the screen size was just too small for me. Still, I know two people who had them and loved them before moving on to the MBA.

 

[Flood4]

I remember touching on in a store and thinking 'People actually use these?'. It seemed very small, cramped even. More toyish than I expected, but I'm sure it would be tremendous for people that travel a heck of a lot.

Plenty of people bought mba11, which was worse in that regard.

 

[darngooddesign]

As a previous 12" PowerBook owner I loved the idea of them, but until there is an M1 version it remains just an idea that I love.

 

[MacStreamer]

That $1299 starting price was absolutely absurd.

 

[Bustycat]

Apples best looking laptop design! Unfortunately it was hampered by bad keyboards and slow processors.

Fragile processors too.

 

[Onimusha370]

Started at $1,299 with 8gb of RAM and 256gb SSD, back then I remember getting one in the UK on education discount for a cool £900. Such an incredible machine for that money, for light use

No idea why they haven't got an apple silicon chip in this design, it would be an absolute monster.

 

[BipedalOS]

With 14 and 16 Pro models, I feel a 12” MBP coming.

Put this with a 13” and 15” MBA and Apple has a killer line up.

 

[TSE]

This is the one laptop that makes more sense for Apple than ever. Just take the 12" MacBook, replace the keyboard with the new ones, put the notch bezels on, and release it!

 

[darngooddesign]

That $1299 starting price was absolutely absurd.

Miniturization and the retina screen contributed to its higher price compared to the Airs.

Going to be hilarious if Apple brings back the wedge shape for a new 12".

 

[IllinoisCorn]

This is a sort of strange item to post about.

 

[iBungie]

I was an early adopter of both 12" Powerbook and then 12" MacBook. MacBook still in use by family member I passed it on to when I upgraded to an M1 MBP. I do less travelling in my work now but when I did the small form factor and light weight of both these discontinued laptops was much appreciated even though both had their limitations. (PowerBook still works but not on original battery )

I would be very interested if an AS 12" or similar was released.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

This was an ideal size for so many people.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Eh, what? We’re having anniversaries for discontinued products now? 🤨

My take is that it was overpriced and underpowered.

 

[0134168]

If someone wants my Macbook 12" 16Gb core I7, he will have to take it apart from my dead hands.

 

[Seanm87]

Was basically a Jony Ive vanity product.

Crap keyboard, way underpowered but pushed the envelope on how thin and light a laptop could be. Although this product was the beginning of Ives downfall.

 

[kerr]

Not having owned either, I could agree with the 11” MBA being discontinued but the 12” MB should still exist.