Will there be an Apple silicon 12 inch Macbook in 2021?

[Blueberry123]

I would like to buy a new ultraportable laptop, having been using a 2013 8gb 11 inch Air the last 7 years. Perfect size for me, but I want to upgrade to a retina screen.

Having tried for a few days, I decided to return the M1 13 Air. The screen quality, battery and performance is great. However, it is too big for my preferred use, sitting on a sofa, bed and travel. The M1 would be ideal for 12 inch Macbook fanless design.

Will Apple make a smaller form factor in 2021/22 ?

 

[jdb8167]

It is certainly possible as the new M1 MacBook Air shows, they can produce a fast computer with very limited cooling with long battery life. On the other hand, because of the MacBook Air being popular, perhaps there isn't a large enough market for a smaller ultraportable. Would you really want a 12" notebook with only a single port? Even if that port is now Thunderbolt/USB4 instead of just USB-C? How about the keyboard? I doubt Apple will ever produce another computer with a butterfly keyboard. So would they have to make the 12" thicker to accommodate the scissor switch keyboard?

Ideally, a 12" notebook with 2 TB/USB4 ports and a scissor switch keyboard would be better but now it is very similar to the MBA and the MBA will have better battery life.

So a 12" MacBook is possible but only Apple knows if it is worth it to them to make one.

 

[Internaut]

Completely unknown at this point. I have a colleague who is properly traumatised by the thought his ageing 12" might be his last . One option for Apple would be a more up-market bezel-less version of the Air, with built in 5G. Funny thing about the Air? You'd think road warriors and frequently travelling execs would be clamouring for it, but Apple just isn't marketing the device them (in fact, Apple sees the M1 Air as little more than a low end consumer toy - go figure).

 

[jdb8167]

Completely unknown at this point. I have a colleague who is properly traumatised by the thought his ageing 12" might be his last . One option for Apple would be a more up-market bezel-less version of the Air, with built in 5G. Funny thing about the Air? You'd think road warriors and frequently travelling execs would be clamouring for it, but Apple just isn't marketing the device them (in fact, Apple sees the M1 Air as little more than a low end consumer toy - go figure).

Why do you say that? Everything on Apple's marketing page for the M1 MacBook Air talks about power, being fanless, and long battery life. I don't see anything implying that the MBA is a toy--just the opposite.

 

[Blueberry123]

So a 12" MacBook is possible but only Apple knows if it is worth it to them to make one

Clearly a smaller market than the 13 MBA/Pro, but great for business and travel use. The M1 chip would give it amazing performance and all day battery life. Ideally with the new magic keyboard and two usb 4 ports.

I would be happy to pay £1299, just for the ultraportability.

 

[azentropy]

I thought it made sense and was surprised it wasn't the first one out of the gate. But kinda doubting it now.

 

[pmiles]

Clearly a smaller market than the 13 MBA/Pro, but great for business and travel use. The M1 chip would give it amazing performance and all day battery life. Ideally with the new magic keyboard and two usb 4 ports.

I would be happy to pay £1299, just for the ultraportability.

I thought ultraportability was the iPhone.

 

[JohnnyGo]

I thought it made sense and was surprised it wasn't the first one out of the gate. But kinda doubting it now.

Agree.

The iPad is their new ultraportable. Great battery life, superb screen.

 

[Blueberry123]

Agree.

The iPad is their new ultraportable. Great battery life, superb screen.

Changing from using a macbook with mac os to using an ipad with ios is a big adjustment. I personally prefer using a laptop, maybe being reluctant to change. There is a market for both. I do not necessarily think if you want an ultraportable laptop, you consider buying an ipad. Different products, different market. Although depending on what you do, they could certainly both function equally well.

I do not know the sales figures, but I assume both the 11 inch Air and 12 Macbook sold well enough for Apple to make a new ultraportable laptop, if they want to.

 

[acidfast7_redux]

I would like to buy a new ultraportable laptop, having been using a 2013 8gb 11 inch Air the last 7 years. Perfect size for me, but I want to upgrade to a retina screen.

Having tried for a few days, I decided to return the M1 13 Air. The screen quality, battery and performance is great. However, it is too big for my preferred use, sitting on a sofa, bed and travel. The M1 would be ideal for 12 inch Macbook fanless design.

Will Apple make a smaller form factor in 2021/22 ?

More curious than anything else ... but what form of transport is the M1MBA too large? I travel around based around Europe A LOT and on long-haul flights and I find it not large at all.

Having said that I am 1.88m/80kg or 6'2"/175#, so I'm not really petite and if you're smaller I can see the appeal of traveling light. I usually just put it in a leather Campomaggi overnight carry bag.

Just more curious than anything as I feel I have experience most forms of transport. I often travel on a hovercraft as an example (similar in size to a Shinkansen).

 

[Dhonk]

I really hope so. I have a 2017 or 2018 12" MB and I love it. I picked it up to replace iPads for couch/bed viewing and ultraportable...much better experience. I'd love an updated 12". I actually don't really like the new scissor mechanism. I've been using a 2019 16" MBP and the keyboard is the worst I've ever used from Apple of all my work/personal computers (2011 11" MBA, 2014 13.3"rMBP, 2017 13.3" rMBP, 2017 12" MB, 2019 16" rMBP). As I've used the butterfly keyboards of the 2017 keyboards, I've come to love them. One thing I hate about the 2019 16" pro keyboard is it feels really cramped. Why do they have massive speakers on both sides? I find myself constantly hitting the Caps Lock Key instead of the "a". I also don't like the "magic keyboard" my wife is using on her 27" iMac.

I'd say my favorite keyboard was the 2014 pro followed by the 2017 MB, followed by the 2017 pro. I can't remember the old Air well enough to compare

 

[Populus]

Don’t lose hope, as there is a new design for macs coming. With such design, it could be possible to have a smaller footprint for the 13,3” devices, including the MacBook Air. And maybe -who knows- a smaller 12” MacBook.

 

[Blueberry123]

but what form of transport is the M1MBA too large?

The M1 13 MBA is not too large for transport. Indeed it is only slightly bigger and heavier than my 11 inch air, 30.41cm x 21.24cm and 1.29kg v 30cm x 19.2cm and 1.08kg. For comparison the 12 Macbook is 28.05cm x 19.65cm and 0.92kg.

However, when comparing the two in actual use side by side, especially when sitting on the sofa and bed as I do, I found I loved the smaller form factor of the 11 Air. I personally would adjust better to the 12 Macbook, compared to the 13 Air, more for the screen height, than the width.