Apple launched its incredibly thin and light 12in MacBook in March 2015 during the company’s Spring Forward event. Monday 21 March saw Apple host 2016’s Spring launch event, so naturally we expected to see a new MacBook one year on. Instead, Apple revealed the iPhone SE, a 9.7in iPad Pro and new Apple Watch straps, but no Macs. Read on for the latest 12in MacBook 2016 release date rumours and feature speculation.
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New MacBook 2016 release date: When is the new 12in MacBook coming out?
The current new MacBook, which is really just called MacBook but was introduced as the new MacBook and we can’t shake it, was unveiled on 9 March on 2015 and then became available to buy on 10 April 2015. That means that it’s quite possible that the successor to Apple’s thinnest and lightest laptop could be right around the corner. But Apple hosted its Spring event on 21 March and there were no new Mac announcements at all.
Now we think it’s possible that Apple might use WWDC 2016 in June to demonstrate new MacBooks, or maybe the company will even sneak in a surprise update before then as sometimes happens without an event at all.
We’ll update this article with new information about the 12in MacBook’s release date as it emerges, so check back regularly for the latest information.
New MacBook 2016 rumours: What new features will the 12in MacBook have?
The current MacBook is an impressive machine, and it’s good-looking too. It’s available in familiar Gold, Silver and Space Grey colour options (although this represents the first time they’ve been used for a Mac rather than Apple’s iOS devices), and it’s an incredible 13.1mm thick. That’s 24 percent thinner than the MacBook Air.
Plus, it has a Retina display, a Force Touch Trackpad and a new butterfly mechanism beneath the individually lit keys on the super-thin keyboard. You can find out more about the Force Touch Trackpad and how it works here.
In a controversial move, the new MacBook also has just a USB Type-C port and a headphone jack. The USB C port offers power, USB 3.1, DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI and VGA capabilities in one single port, but that also means you’ll be likely to require adapters if you want to use more than one of those functions at once. Find out more about Apple’s USB-C adapters and adapters from third parties in our USB-C Adapters article.
Right now, the MacBook uses Intel’s 14nm Broadwell-Y Core M processor, and it’s likely that Apple will use a new Intel Core M processor for the new 2016 model of the MacBook. However, there has been some chatter about the possibility of an A10X processor for the laptop. We think the latter is unlikely, but we certainly can’t rule it out.
If our prediction is correct, the new MacBook will have Intel’s 14nm Core M chip. However, that could mean a wait until late in 2016 for the new MacBook if Apple wants the newest chips, as Intel’s tablet processor map suggests that the Core m5/m7 chips with the 14nm fabrication process are expected in the fourth quarter of 2016.
Will the 12in MacBook replace the MacBook Air?
Apple’s MacBook Air is now eight years old, so it’s quite possible that the MacBook is lining up to replace it in the near future. When the MacBook Air first launched its biggest selling point was its thin and light design, hence the name, but the MacBook now outshines it in those areas so it seems unlikely that the MacBook Air has much of a future ahead of it. Plus, for those looking for ultimate portability there’s the new iPad Pro with a 12.9in screen.
There is the question of price, though – the MacBook is much more pricey than its Air sibling, starting at £1,049 compared with the Air’s £749 starting price.
[Source:- Macworld]
