CMV: there won’t be a 12-inch MacBook at the November event

[Fomalhaut]

Apple take the 13" Air or Pro, trim the fat from the screen bezel and some of the thickness, and gimme. Like others have said I am very curious to see how Apple differentiates its chips across the MacBooks, considering the iPad Pro will have the next A14X chip, they can't just stuff the same thing in the 13" Pro. I'm wondering if they segment the chips by cpu and gpu clock speeds or if they actually throw more GPU and CPU cores on higher end skus.

Like you, I'm really interested to see how Apple Silicon will be segmented. You can't just add CPU & GPU cores without making the die larger, so maybe they will have 2 or 3 die sizes, and then select different CPU/GPU configuration by binning or actively disabling cores. There will be a baseline Mac-Silicon design, based on A14 cores, but with Mac-specific components (Thunderbolt/PCIe controller etc.) but with increasing sizes (Small, Medium & Large like T-shirts?). Small might be essentially the same as the A14 for a MacBook replacement (2+4 CPU, 4 core GPU), Medium could be 4+4 CPU, 8 core GPU, and large 8+4 CPU with a 12-core GPU. These would have TDPs ranging with 5-7W to 25-30W.

 

[Jack Neill]

My guess based on nothing:

13" MBA 9,2 exact same chassis as the 9,1 but with an A14.

999$ 256
1299$ 512
1599$ 1024

No other models until Q2 of 21

 

[Waragainstsleep]

I’d say really more because it tips the balance between portability and screen size too far towards portability for most people. The 13” MacBook Air or Pro is perfectly portable for most, why give up an extra 1.3” screen diagonal and 20% resolution unless you’re really going to be using it on a cramped flight regularly? Maybe if they could squeeze in a 12.5-13.0” display without increasing the size it’d be a more tempting mainstream option.

It's really the definition of a niche product by anthropometrics/ ergonomics - something which falls outside the optimal design size for more than a relatively small subset of the population. I'm sure it has its ideal use cases and fans which couldn't imagine using anything else, but no, I don't think it ever would be a bestseller without becoming a compact ~13"er à la the Dell XPS 13. As someone previously noted the 11" MacBook Air never outsold the 13" despite being $100 cheaper spec for spec.

Given all the available options for Airplay screen sharing or good old fashioned external displays, Once it has the horsepower I think it becomes much more flexible and useful.

 

[theSeb]

I think a 12” MacBook would send the wrong message about Apple’s confidence in Mac silicon. The 12” was always a niche product that was a statement of how small a MacBook could be with “adequate” performance. The MacBook was supposed to be the “future of MacBooks.” I’m still not sure what that means. 5 years later we still have the same old MacBooks and the Airs had to have fans in them. All MacBooks since have had at least 2 or more ports so at least the future wasn’t a single port.

Because of exactly all the failures due to Intel chips in the 12" Macbook, it would be the perfect product show case how they now "got it right" thanks to AS. I am an owner of the original 2015 Macbook 12" model, but I don't think it will happen. I think Apple will point at the iPad pro as the replacement for the Macbook.

 

[SWAON]

Ming Chi-Kuo reported it would be 13" MBP and 21" iMac as first ARM Macs, I tend to believe he's more credible source than other leakers. I hope for two things: design change and price value. Next year we'll have 14" and 16" MBP ARM refreshes..

 

[UltimateSyn]

Ming Chi-Kuo reported it would be 13" MBP and 21" iMac as first ARM Macs, I tend to believe he's more credible source than other leakers. I hope for two things: design change and price value. Next year we'll have 14" and 16" MBP ARM refreshes.

I hope it's the 13" MBP footprint.... but with a 14" display, and made thinner, without any fans. I'd be all over that.

 

[ascender]

If Apple were to just update the internals of the current MacBook Pro's to be Apple Silicon and do nothing else, who's going to buy those in big-enough numbers at this stage? It just seems like a really niche, short-term move when most people who're buying Pros will know there's a redesign coming sooner rather than later.

Personally I think it will be an all-new design for all their laptops as they've already done the short-term thing by putting the Magic Keyboard in to the Pro. I wondered at the time if that was because Apple Silicon had been delayed.

I do still expect to see an entry-level MacBook though - its literally the ideal product to get out there with Apple Silicon as buyers of those machines are less likely to be using software which is going to have any issues at the start - i.e. the pro audio & video stuff.

 

[jazz1]

If Apple were to just update the internals of the current MacBook Pro's to be Apple Silicon and do nothing else, who's going to buy those in big-enough numbers at this stage? It just seems like a really niche, short-term move when most people who're buying Pros will know there's a redesign coming sooner rather than later.

Personally I think it will be an all-new design for all their laptops as they've already done the short-term thing by putting the Magic Keyboard in to the Pro. I wondered at the time if that was because Apple Silicon had been delayed.

I do still expect to see an entry-level MacBook though - its literally the ideal product to get out there with Apple Silicon as buyers of those machines are less likely to be using software which is going to have any issues at the start - i.e. the pro audio & video stuff.

Simply updated internals of the Intel based Macs will certainly not give ARM the “WOW” factor many people are looking for (me included).

That said, I wonder what ratio of improved performance over price people will be expecting? Pure conjecture on my part, but bumping performance say 10% and dropping $100.00 of the price of a ARM Macbook ”Air” like laptop would certainly disappoint. Upgrading the case design is something I’d like to see, but the price performance factor is very important. I guess I’m greedy, I want it all, new case design, fast CPU, and new, stable, Big Sur OS ?

 

[ascender]

Simply updated internals of the Intel based Macs will certainly not give ARM the “WOW” factor many people are looking for (me included).

That said, I wonder what ratio of improved performance over price people will be expecting? Pure conjecture on my part, but bumping performance say 10% and dropping $100.00 of the price of a ARM Macbook ”Air” like laptop would certainly disappoint. Upgrading the case design is something I’d like to see, but the price performance factor is very important. I guess I’m greedy, I want it all, new case design, fast CPU, and new, stable, Big Sur OS ?

I think Apple will want to clearly distinguish between the old & new, but that's just my opinion.

I suspect most people buying an Air don't care about performance, so to them, a price drop on the new laptop which can now run all the apps they use on their iPhone & iPad would be all Apple need to do.

Its people buying the Pros who will be more interested in the performance improvements.

 

[DHagan4755]

 

[klasma]

Cucumber mosaic virus?

 

[Serban55]

So expect 13" Macbook air and 13" Macbook pro to be available in November for customers, with 24 redesign iMac for December

 

[JPack]

Did anyone really expect a 12- or 14-inch model?

Months ago, we saw the 13" battery certified by KTR, 3C, and UL Demko. It has the exact same form factor as the existing 13" Air.

 

[ascender]

View attachment 977650

A whole week earlier than expected! Can't wait!

 

[UltimateSyn]

Did anyone really expect a 12- or 14-inch model?

Months ago, we saw the 13" battery certified by KTR, 3C, and UL Demko. It has the exact same form factor as the existing 13" Air.

I don't think they would have to change the chassis or battery size of the 13" Air/Pro models to fit a 14" screen in (and that's kind of the whole point why people want it).

 

[JPack]

I don't think they would have to change the chassis or battery size of the 13" Air/Pro models to fit a 14" screen in (and that's kind of the whole point why people want it).

Apple would have to change the chassis. It would be an engineering impossibility otherwise.

In order to have the same aspect ratio and a 14" display, the side bezel would have to be 0.07" thick for both left and right. That's less than 1mm.

Franky, the people who thought 14" was possible with the existing chassis probably haven't bothered to spend 10 seconds doing the math.

 

[markiv810]

My guess is an Apple Silicon based laptop and an Apple Silicon based 21" iMac. It would be wise for Apple to release a laptop and desktop to show the capability and performance of the Apple Silicon.

 

[Serban55]

Apple would have to change the chassis. It would be an engineering impossibility otherwise.

In order to have the same aspect ratio and a 14" display, the side bezel would have to be 0.07" thick for both left and right. That's less than 1mm.

Franky, the people who thought 14" was possible with the existing chassis probably haven't bothered to spend 10 seconds doing the math.

i think people considered that the current macbook air has 13.6"

 

[Serban55]

I don't think they would have to change the chassis or battery size of the 13" Air/Pro models to fit a 14" screen in (and that's kind of the whole point why people want it).

the battery they dont have to change it...but since the current 13" is actual an 13.3" and not an 13.6" to go from 13.3 to 14" is to make the side bezels like samsung smartphones, curved with actual 0.5mm bezel or so
And since apple never did it with their phones they will not do it with the macs
So expect the 14" Mbp next year

 

[thingstoponder]

I’m starting to wonder if there will be a 12” at all. The only “proof” is the lovetodream tweet but that was a long time ago, he could have been wrong. It’s just assumed this product exists and it will have an a14x which people take as fact despite Apple pretty clearly saying that Apple silicon will be its own family and Bloomberg saying they already are working on three chips and more are in the works. There was a round of news stories about a $799 a14x MacBook 12” but those were not from a reliable source, it was Komiya who is a complete fraud according to lovetodream.

It’s also assumed that the reason they discontinued it is because Intel couldn’t keep up with fanless chips but that’s just a complete guess. It could be that 12” just wasn’t popular. I mean Apple isn’t stupid, there’s probably a reason they always have so many 13 inch laptops. The 11.6 Air was also discontinued presumably due to lack of sales.

With the news today that there will be a 13” Air, 13” Pro”, and a 16” Pro what if the three chips from the Bloomberg report are for those three models? This makes a lot of sense as it’s pretty straight forward just to do all notebooks at once because you wouldn’t have lower end AS notebooks outperforming higher end Intel ones. It doesn’t make much sense to stagger the lineup for notebooks especially if you start with lower end.

There are also rumors from Kuo of a redesigned 14” Pro and 16” Pro about a year from now. It was assumed until now that the 16” wouldn’t get AS until then but with the news today it seems to make more sense. First gen AS will be existing bodies and 2nd gen will be the new bodies.

The only questions is when do desktops come? If a 24” iMac comes early next year does a 27”(+?) iMac come with it? Does a Mac mini come with it? Obviously the Mac Pro and iMac Pro will be later.

 

[dmccloud]

I don't think they would have to change the chassis or battery size of the 13" Air/Pro models to fit a 14" screen in (and that's kind of the whole point why people want it).

Yes, they would. The most you could increase the size of the screen in the 13" Air/Pro is half an inch, and that's assuming you leave the screen ratio intact. There is not much room horizontally to extend the screen with the current chassis, and most of the extra space is above the screen (also where the camera is located). For multiple reasons, no manufacturer can extend the usable screen to the very edges of the chassis itself, which is what would have to occur to even have a snowball's chance in hell of squeezing a 14" screen into the existing 13" chassis.

 

[DHagan4755]

I’m starting to wonder if there will be a 12” at all.

Yeah I'd give up on that in the short term. For now, I think Apple is just trying to update all of its current lineup. Then when that's settled, they'll start rolling out new concepts and maybe retro concepts like the 12"

 

[Eric Idle]

I used to have an 11.6" MacBook Air and then switched to a 13.3" model. The bigger screen was such a huge improvement. No matter how amazing the 12" will be, I'm not going back to a smaller screen.

I'd buy a 12 inch MacBook in a heart beat. A hard pass on anything larger.

 

[Lucifer666]

It’s the 2 lbs. When you get down to these types of weights, 1lbs is a huge jump. No one wants 12” screens, they want 2 lbs.

Problem is, so far 13” is 3lbs. Who knows What the future will bring/

 

[aleni]

Fanless 13” apple silicon macbook. Slightly larger than the old 12 macbook with thinner bezel. Pretty much the same design but with a scissor keyboard. You hear it here first!