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12-inch MacBook
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MacBook (early 2015) in gold with ISO keyboard | |
| Also known as | 12 in (300 mm) MacBook, Retina MacBook, MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015–2017)[1] |
|---|---|
| Developer | Apple |
| Manufacturer | Apple |
| Product family | MacBook |
| Type | Subnotebook |
| Released |
|
| Introductory price | USD $1299, CAD $1549, Euro €1449, GBP £1249 |
| Discontinued | July 9, 2019 |
| Operating system | macOS |
| CPU | Intel Core m, m3, m5, m7, i5 or i7 |
| Graphics | Intel HD Graphics |
| Predecessor | MacBook (2006–2012) |
| Successor | MacBook Air (Apple silicon) (indirect, fanless) MacBook Air (indirect) MacBook Pro (indirect) |
| Related | |
The 12-inch MacBook (also called the Retina MacBook, officially marketed as the new MacBook) is a discontinued Mac laptop made by Apple, which sat between the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro in Apple's laptop lineup. It shares the same name as its predecessor that was discontinued three years prior to the release of this one.
Introduced in March 2015, it was more compact than any other notebook in the MacBook family at the time and included a Retina display, fanless design, and a Butterfly keyboard with lower key travel. It only had a single USB-C port, used for both power and data. It was revised in 2017, and discontinued in July 2019, a year after the release of the MacBook Air with Retina display.
Overview
[edit]The MacBook was announced at an Apple special event on March 9, 2015, and was released a month later on April 10. It employed Intel's Broadwell Core M processors at a TDP of around 4.5 watts to allow for a fanless design and a logic board that is much smaller than in previous MacBooks. It had a similar appearance to the MacBook Air, but was thinner and lighter, offered (at the time of introduction) more storage and memory, and a higher-resolution 2304×1440 Retina display, but lower processor and graphics performance.[2] The MacBook has at times been available in space gray, silver, and gold finishes.

| This article is part of a series on the |
| MacBook |
|---|
| List of Mac models by CPU type |
The MacBook has only one port, a single, multi-purpose USB-C port; it was the first Mac with USB-C. The port supports transmission speeds of up to 5 Gbit/s, and can be used for data, and audio/video output, and charging; it was the first MacBook without MagSafe charging. Apple markets an adapter that can provide a full-size USB-A connector, and a "Digital AV Multiport Adapter" with a charging pass-through, full-size USB-A port, and HDMI output.[3] Although Thunderbolt 3 technology uses USB-C connectors, the MacBook's USB-C port does not support Thunderbolt. It was one of only two Macs, along with the 2012 Mac Pro, to not support Thunderbolt since it was introduced to Macs in 2011.[4] Thunderbolt devices, such as storage media and the Apple Thunderbolt Display, are not compatible. Shortly after the MacBook's introduction, various companies began announcing cables and adapters for the USB-C port.[5]
Despite its small size, it features a full-sized keyboard and a large trackpad. The MacBook introduced a new Butterfly keyboard, with traditional scissor mechanism keys replaced with a new, Apple-designed butterfly mechanism, making the keyboard thinner and, as Apple claims, individual keys more stable. The keyboard's backlight no longer consisted of a row of LEDs and a light guide panel, but instead used a single LED for each key.[6] It also introduced the Force Touch trackpad, a solid-state trackpad that measures pressure sensitivity, and replicates a click with haptic feedback. The trackpad was later brought to the Magic Trackpad 2 and the 2015 MacBook Pro. A similar technology (3D Touch) is also used in the Apple Watch and introduced with the iPhone 6S.
The aluminum enclosure is 13.1 mm at its thickest point at the hinge end.[7] The battery was custom-designed to fill the available space in the small enclosure. It uses a 39.7 watt-hour lithium-polymer terraced battery cell which was advertised to provide "all day" battery life. Apple claimed nine hours of Internet browsing or ten hours of iTunes movie playback. The battery was improved in the 2016 refresh, with Apple claiming ten hours for Internet browsing, and eleven hours of iTunes movie playback.[8] The MacBook did not include any beryllium, BFRs, or PVCs in its construction. The display was made of arsenic-free glass. It was made of recyclable materials such as aluminum and glass, meets Energy Star 6.1 standards, and was rated EPEAT Gold.
On April 19, 2016, Apple updated the MacBook with Skylake Core M processors, Intel HD 515 graphics, faster memory, longer battery life, faster storage[9] and a new rose gold finish.[10]
On June 5, 2017, Apple updated the MacBook with Intel Kaby Lake m3, i5, and i7 processors (previously known as m3, m5, and m7). It featured the second-generation butterfly keyboard, which introduced new symbols for the control and option keys. It also features faster storage and memory.[11] On October 30, 2018, Apple quietly eliminated two color options (rose gold and the original gold) and added a new color option (new gold) to match the Apple devices's 2018 color scheme.[12][13]
On July 9, 2019, Apple quietly discontinued the MacBook line.[14] On June 7, 2021, Apple announced macOS Monterey which dropped support for early 2015 model MacBook.[15] On June 30, 2021, Apple added the early 2015 model MacBook to its "vintage products" list, making it eligible for only limited product support.[16] On June 6, 2022, Apple announced macOS Ventura which dropped support for the early 2016 model MacBook. On June 5, 2023, Apple announced macOS Sonoma which dropped support for the 2017 model, marking the end of macOS updates to the family. On June 30, 2023, Apple added the early 2015 model MacBook to its "obsolete products" list, making it end of product support and discontinues all hardware service.
Design
[edit]
Externally, the MacBook follows the design of the MacBook Air with a tapered aluminum enclosure. It has a flush screen with black bezels similar to the MacBook Pro. The Apple logo on the rear of the display is glossy and opaque, rather than backlit and white as seen on every Apple notebook since the 1999 PowerBook G3 and 2001 iBook.[17][18]
The design was very similar to the Touch Bar MacBook Pro (2016 - 2019) and the Retina MacBook Air (2018 - 2019), with a glass force touch trackpad, butterfly keyboard, and retina screen.[19]
The letters on the MacBook's keyboard are in the San Francisco typeface, whereas previous notebooks made by Apple used VAG Rounded.[6]
Apple updated the typeface of the model name MacBook on at the bottom of the screen bezel to San Francisco in the 2017 model.
Reception
[edit]Reception for the MacBook was mixed. Critics praised the design and overall quality of the product, with some regarding it as a potential successor to the MacBook Air, as the Air had an aging design and low resolution screen.[20] However, Apple continued to offer the MacBook Air while selling the MacBook at considerably higher price. Several described the MacBook as a limited first-generation proof-of-concept design for early adopters, and recommended against buying the MacBook until it reached greater maturity, and its price dropped sufficiently for mainstream adoption.[21][22][23][24][25][26] The slow performance of the Intel Core M processor was regarded as the new MacBook's main deficiency, relative to the cheaper and faster MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.[27] Among the other criticisms of the new MacBook are the lack of various popular ports, particularly USB Type-A ports, and that it only contains a single port which limits data transfer and overall convenience without the use of an adapter.[28]
The keyboard received considerable criticism as being poor for long-term use: developer Marco Arment described the notebook's build and small size as "absolutely amazing, revolutionary, and mind-blowing... until you need to use the keyboard for something."[29] He also criticised the trackpad as worse than on previous MacBooks, and said that he would be returning the model he had bought.[30]
A report by AppleInsider had claimed that the updated butterfly keyboard fails twice as often as previous models, often due to particles stuck beneath the keys.[31] Repairs for stuck keys have been estimated to cost more than $700.[32] In May 2018, two class action lawsuits were filed against Apple regarding the keyboard issue with one alleging a "constant threat of nonresponsive keys and accompanying keyboard failure" and accusing Apple of not alerting consumers to the issue.[33] In June 2018, Apple announced a Service Program to "service eligible MacBook and MacBook Pro keyboards, free of charge".[34]
Technical specifications
[edit]| Model | Early 2015[35] | Early 2016[36] | 2017[37] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timeline | Announced | March 9, 2015 | April 19, 2016[10] | June 5, 2017 | |||
| Released | April 10, 2015[38] | June 6, 2017[citation needed] | |||||
| Discontinued | April 19, 2016 | June 5, 2017 | July 9, 2019 | ||||
| Unsupported[a] | September 26, 2023 | September 16, 2024 | September 15, 2025 | ||||
| Vintage[b] | June 30, 2021 | July 31, 2022 | October 8, 2024 | ||||
| Obsolete | June 30, 2023 | September 23, 2024 | 2026 | ||||
| Production | Model identifier | MacBook8,1 | MacBook9,1 | MacBook10,1 | |||
| Model number | A1534, EMC 2746 | A1534, EMC 2991 | A1534, EMC 3099 | ||||
| MSRP (USD) | $1299 | $1599 | $1299 | $1599 | $1299 | $1599 | |
| Order numbers | MJY32 (Space Gray) MF855 (Silver) MK4M2 (Gold) |
MJY42 (Space Gray) MF865 (Silver) MK4N2 (Gold) |
MLH72 (Space Gray) MLHA2 (Silver) MLHE2 (Gold) MMGL2 (Rose Gold) |
MLH82 (Space Gray) MLHC2 (Silver) MLHF2 (Gold) MMGM2 (Rose Gold) |
MNYF2 (Space Gray) MNYH2 (Silver) MNYK2 (Gold) MNYM2 (Rose Gold) On October 30, 2018 Gold and Rose Gold were discontinued and replaced by MRQN2 (Gold) |
MNYG2 (Space Gray) MNYJ2 (Silver) MNYL2 (Gold) MNYN2 (Rose Gold) On October 30, 2018 Gold and Rose Gold were discontinued and replaced by MRQP2 (Gold) | |
| Display | 12" glossy widescreen LED-backlit Retina Display, 2304 × 1440 (16∶10), 226 px/in, with millions of colors (supported scaled resolutions: 2880 × 1800, 2560 × 1600 (default), 2048 × 1280) | ||||||
| Webcam | iSight (480p) | ||||||
| Performance | Processor | 1.1 GHz 2-core Intel Core M-5Y31 Broadwell (Turbo Boost up to 2.4 GHz) | 1.2 GHz 2-core Intel Core M-5Y51 Broadwell (Turbo Boost up to 2.6 GHz) | 1.1 GHz 2-core Intel Core M3-6Y30 Skylake (cTDP Up mode, Turbo Boost up to 2.2 GHz) | 1.2 GHz 2-core Intel Core M5-6Y54 Skylake (cTDP Up mode, Turbo Boost up to 2.7 GHz) | 1.2 GHz 2-core Intel Core M3-7Y32 Kaby Lake processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.0 GHz) | 1.3 GHz 2-core Intel Core i5-7Y54 Kaby Lake processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.2 GHz) |
| Optional 1.3 GHz 2-core Intel Core M-5Y71 Broadwell (Turbo Boost up to 2.9 GHz)[13] | Optional 1.3 GHz 2-core Intel Core M7-6Y75 Skylake (cTDP Up mode, Turbo Boost up to 3.1 GHz) | Optional 1.3 GHz 2-core Intel Core i5-7Y54 Kaby Lake processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.2 GHz) or 1.4 GHz 2-core Intel Core i7-7Y75 Kaby Lake processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.6 GHz) | Optional 1.4 GHz 2-core Intel Core i7-7Y75 Kaby Lake processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.6 GHz) | ||||
| Cache | 4 MB L3 cache | ||||||
| System bus | N/a | 4 GT/s OPI (max. theoretical bandwidth 4 GB/s)[39] | |||||
| Memory | 8 GB 1600 MHz LPDDR3 SDRAM | 8 GB 1866 MHz LPDDR3 SDRAM | 8 GB 1866 MHz LPDDR3 SDRAM Optional to 16 GB of RAM at time of purchase only | ||||
| Graphics | Intel HD Graphics 5300 with LPDDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory | Intel HD Graphics 515 with LPDDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory | Intel HD Graphics 615 with LPDDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory | ||||
| Flash storage | 256 GB NVMe/PCIe 2.0 ×4, 5.0 GT/s[40] | 512 GB NVMe/PCIe 2.0 ×4, 5.0 GT/s[40] | 256 GB NVMe/PCIe 3.0 ×2, 8.0 GT/s[40] | 512 GB NVMe/PCIe 3.0 ×2, 8.0 GT/s[40] | 256 GB NVMe | 512 GB NVMe | |
| Input/Output | Wi-Fi | Integrated 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, up to 1.3 Gbit/s) | |||||
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 4.0 | Bluetooth 4.2 | |||||
| USB | USB 3.1 generation 1 over USB-C, up to 5 Gbit/s (for power, converts to USB Type-A and video out via separate adapter) | ||||||
| Audio | Speaker, 3.5mm Headphone Jack | ||||||
| Video out | USB-C DisplayPort 1.2 Alternate Mode (max. 4096 × 2304} @ 48 Hz or 3840 × 2160 @ 60 Hz [41]) |
USB-C DisplayPort 1.2 Alternate Mode (max. 4096 × 2304 @ 60 Hz [41]) | |||||
| Keyboard | Butterfly mechanism | Second-generation butterfly mechanism | |||||
| Power | 39.7 Wh battery 29 watt USB-C power adapter |
41.4 Wh battery 29 watt USB-C power adapter | |||||
| Appearance | Weight | 2.03 pounds (0.92 kg) | |||||
| Dimensions (width x depth x thickness) | 11.04 in × 7.74 in × 0.14 in–0.52 in (280.42 mm × 196.60 mm × 3.56 mm–13.21 mm) | ||||||
| Colors | Space Gray, Silver, Gold | Space Gray, Silver, Gold, Rose Gold | Space Gray, Silver, Gold, Rose Gold; in 2018, Rose Gold and Gold (original) were replaced with a new Gold | ||||
| OS | Minimum | OS X 10.10 Yosemite | OS X 10.11 El Capitan | macOS 10.12 Sierra | |||
| Latest release | macOS 11 Big Sur | macOS 12 Monterey | macOS 13 Ventura | ||||
Supported operating systems
[edit]Supported macOS releases
[edit]| OS release | Model | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Early 2015 | Early 2016 | 2017 | |
| 10.10 Yosemite | 10.10.2 | N/a | N/a |
| 10.11 El Capitan | 10.11.4 | N/a | |
| 10.12 Sierra | 10.12.5 | ||
| 10.13 High Sierra | |||
| 10.14 Mojave | |||
| 10.15 Catalina | |||
| 11 Big Sur | |||
| 12 Monterey | Patch | ||
| 13 Ventura | Patch | Patch | |
| 14 Sonoma | Patch | Patch | Patch |
| 15 Sequoia | Patch | Patch | Patch |
| 26 Tahoe | |||
Windows releases
[edit]| Windows version | Model | |
|---|---|---|
| Early 2015-Early 2016 | 2017 | |
| Windows 8 [Note 1][Note 2] [42][43] | ||
| Windows 8.1 [Note 3] [42][43] | ||
| Windows 10 [Note 4] [44][43] | ||
| Windows 11 | ||
- ^ Windows 8 can only be installed on Macs with Boot Camp 5.0 to 6.0. This includes OS X 10.11 and earlier.
- ^ Only 64-bit versions of Windows are supported for Windows 8 and later.
- ^ Windows 8.1 can only be installed on Macs with Boot Camp 5.1 or later, running macOS High Sierra or earlier. Later versions of macOS no longer support Windows 8.1.
- ^ Windows 10 can only be installed on Macs with Boot Camp 6.0 or later. It is the only supported version of Windows on macOS Mojave and later.
Timeline
[edit]| Timeline of portable Macintoshes |
|---|
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See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Made by Apple – All Accessories". Apple. Archived from the original on September 27, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
- ^ "Apple- MacBook". Apple Inc. Archived from the original on June 22, 2009. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
- ^ "6 things to know about the USB-C port in the new MacBook". PC World. IDG. Archived from the original on May 5, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
- ^ "About Thunderbolt ports and displays". Apple Inc. Archived from the original on June 10, 2017. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
- ^ Clover, Juli (March 11, 2015). "Belkin Announces New Line of USB-C Cables, USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter". MacRumors. Archived from the original on March 14, 2015. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
- ^ a b Wright, Mic (March 9, 2015). "The new MacBook shows San Francisco is more than just the Apple Watch font". The Next Web. Archived from the original on April 13, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- ^ "Apple – MacBook". Apple. Archived from the original on September 18, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
- ^ "Apple – MacBook – Tech Specs". Apple. April 19, 2016. Archived from the original on June 10, 2017. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
- ^ Cutress, Ian. "Apple Refreshes MacBook with Skylake-based Core M and New Rose Gold Color". AnandTech. Archived from the original on April 19, 2016. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
- ^ a b Apple Inc. (April 19, 2016). "Apple Updates MacBook" (Press release). San Francisco. Archived from the original on October 20, 2017. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
- ^ "MacBook – Technical Specifications". Archived from the original on June 10, 2017.
- ^ "Apple's 12-inch MacBook gets a new gold color (and ditches its old gold color)". CNET. October 30, 2018. Archived from the original on November 7, 2018. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
- ^ a b "Apple MacBook Specs (All MacBook Technical Specs) @ EveryMac.com". EveryMac.com. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
- ^ "Apple killed the 12-inch MacBook". Engadget. Archived from the original on July 10, 2019. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
- ^ "macOS Monterey is compatible with these computers". Apple. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
- ^ Miller, Chance (June 30, 2021). "The 12-inch MacBook introduced in 2015 is now considered 'vintage' by Apple". 9to5Mac. 9to5. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- ^ Lowensohn, Josh (March 9, 2015). "Apple's glowing laptop lid is no more". The Verge. Archived from the original on October 19, 2019. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
- ^ Rossignol, Joe. "New MacBook Pros Don't Include Backlit Apple Logo or Power Extension Cable". www.macrumors.com. Archived from the original on October 19, 2019. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
- ^ "MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, 2017) - Technical Specifications". Apple Support. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
- ^ Ackerman, Dan (July 9, 2019). "RIP 12-inch Apple MacBook, my misunderstood friend". CNET. Archived from the original on February 18, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
- ^ Elliott, Melissa. "Concise "New Retina Macbook" Review". Archived from the original on August 13, 2015. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
- ^ Etherington, Darrell (April 9, 2015). "2015 MacBook Review". TechCrunch. Archived from the original on July 7, 2017. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
- ^ Cunningham, Andrew (April 9, 2015). "The 2015 MacBook previews a future that's not quite here". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on May 5, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
- ^ Wollman, Dana (April 9, 2015). "MacBook review: Apple reinvents the laptop again". Engadget. Archived from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
- ^ Stern, Joanna (April 9, 2015). "Apple MacBook Review: The Laptop of the Future Isn't Ready for the Present". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on March 15, 2017. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
- ^ Pierce, David (April 9, 2015). "Review: Apple MacBook". Wired. Archived from the original on March 30, 2017. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
- ^ "The Best MacBooks for 2022 | Reviews by Wirecutter". Thewirecutter.com. Archived from the original on August 17, 2016. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
- ^ Savov, Vlad (April 9, 2015). "MacBook Pro Review (2015)". The Verge. Archived from the original on July 3, 2017. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
- ^ Arment, Marco. "Quick impressions of the new stuff in the Apple Store today, which probably aren't useful since everyone can just go see for themselves now". Archived from the original on July 8, 2015. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
- ^ Arment, Marco. "Mistake One". Archived from the original on August 20, 2015. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
- ^ Wuerthele, Mike (April 30, 2018). "2016 MacBook Pro butterfly keyboards failing twice as frequently as older models". AppleInsider. Archived from the original on May 31, 2018. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
- ^ Axon, Samuel (May 8, 2018). "Report: Butterfly MacBook Pro keyboards require more frequent, more expensive repairs". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on May 13, 2018. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
- ^ Moyer, Edward (May 12, 2018). "Apple MacBook keyboard issue prompts lawsuit". CNET. Archived from the original on May 26, 2018. Retrieved May 31, 2018.; Heisler, Yoni (May 23, 2018). "Apple hit with another class-action lawsuit over the MacBook Pro keyboard design". Boy Genius Report. Archived from the original on May 30, 2018. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
- ^ Tibken, Shara (June 22, 2018). "Apple will fix sticky keyboards on some MacBooks, MacBook Pros". CNET. Archived from the original on July 1, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
- ^ "MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) – Technical Specifications". Apple Inc. Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
- ^ "MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016) – Technical Specifications". Apple Inc. Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
- ^ "MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, 2017) – Technical Specifications". support.apple.com. Archived from the original on October 10, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
- ^ "Apple Unveils All-New MacBook" (Press release). San Francisco: Apple Inc. March 9, 2015. Archived from the original on October 10, 2017. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
- ^ Ganesh T S (May 9, 2016). "Choosing the Right SSD for a Skylake-U System". AnandTech. Archived from the original on November 17, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
- ^ a b c d Ryan Smith. "The MacBook's SSD: NVMe". anandtech.com. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
- ^ a b "Using 4K displays, 5K displays and Ultra HD TVs with your Mac – Apple Support". support.apple.com. June 23, 2017. Archived from the original on November 23, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
- ^ a b "Use Windows 8.1 on your Mac with Boot Camp". December 21, 2016. Archived from the original on September 6, 2017. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
- ^ a b c "System requirements to install Windows using Boot Camp for macOS". Apple Support. December 6, 2018. Archived from the original on March 12, 2015. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
- ^ "Install Windows 10 on your Mac with Boot Camp Assistant". Apple Support. June 16, 2020. Archived from the original on August 21, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
External links
[edit]- MacBook – official site
12-inch MacBook
View on GrokipediaOverview
Product Positioning
The 12-inch MacBook was positioned as an ultra-portable subnotebook within Apple's laptop lineup, bridging the gap between the larger 13-inch MacBook Air and the more powerful MacBook Pro models by prioritizing extreme thinness, lightness, and extended battery life over high-end performance capabilities.[1][10] At just 13.1 mm thick and weighing only 2 pounds, it represented the thinnest and lightest Mac notebook ever produced at the time, with a fanless design enabling silent operation and up to 9 hours of wireless web browsing or 10 hours of video playback.[1] This focus on portability made it a specialized option for users who valued mobility and minimalism in a device featuring a 12-inch Retina display.[11] It targeted students, frequent travelers, and users with light computing needs, such as web browsing, document editing, email management, and media consumption, rather than demanding professional workloads like video editing or software development.[10][11] The device's streamlined form factor and single USB-C port for charging and connectivity further emphasized its role as a secondary or on-the-go companion laptop, appealing to those willing to trade expandability for compactness.[1] The 2015 model marked Apple's return to the 12-inch laptop category with an all-aluminum unibody construction, the first such design in that form factor since the discontinuation of the polycarbonate 12-inch MacBook in 2008.[12] This revival updated the subnotebook concept with modern materials and integration, while maintaining the emphasis on portability that defined the original line.[1] At launch, the base configuration started at $1,299, positioning it as a premium entry-level option above budget alternatives but below the pricier MacBook Pro.[1]Development and Announcement
The development of the 12-inch MacBook originated in 2014 amid Apple's ongoing initiative to produce thinner and lighter laptops, building on the unibody redesign of the MacBook Air introduced in 2010. Reports from that year indicated that Apple had initiated low-volume production of components for a new ultra-thin MacBook model, targeting a potential launch by late 2014 or early 2015 to emphasize portability and minimalism in its laptop lineup.[13] Apple officially announced the 12-inch MacBook on March 9, 2015, during a media event at its Town Hall in San Francisco, presenting it as an entirely new line of notebooks dubbed simply the "new MacBook." The device was positioned as Apple's thinnest and lightest laptop to date, measuring just 13.1 mm thick and weighing 2 pounds, with a focus on integrating advanced features into a compact form factor. It launched in three colors—gold, silver, and space gray—and shipped beginning April 10, 2015, equipped with dual-core Intel Core M processors based on the Broadwell architecture, available in configurations starting at 1.1 GHz.[1] In April 2016, Apple quietly updated the MacBook without a formal event, introducing sixth-generation Intel Core m3, m5, and m7 processors (Skylake architecture), faster graphics, and the new rose gold color option alongside the existing palette. This refresh also enhanced storage speeds and battery life, maintaining the model's emphasis on ultra-portability. A further update arrived on June 5, 2017, replacing the Core m-series with seventh-generation Intel Core m3, i5, and i7 processors (Kaby Lake architecture) and expanding RAM options to a maximum of 16 GB of LPDDR3, while retaining the same color choices including rose gold.[14][15]Design and Build
Physical Construction
The 12-inch MacBook employs a tapered aluminum unibody enclosure, machined from a single block of aluminum for structural integrity and a premium finish. This design measures 11.04 inches (28.05 cm) in width, 7.74 inches (19.65 cm) in depth, and tapers in height from 0.14 inches (0.35 cm) at its thinnest front edge to 0.52 inches (1.31 cm) at the rear hinge area across all models from 2015 to 2017.[6] The chassis weighs 2.03 pounds (0.92 kg) across all color options.[16] The laptop adopts a fanless architecture, eliminating active cooling fans to achieve completely silent operation during use. Heat dissipation relies on passive cooling through the aluminum chassis itself, which serves as a thermal conductor to spread and radiate warmth evenly without mechanical components.[1] This approach aligns with the device's emphasis on minimalism and portability, though it limits sustained high-performance tasks to prevent thermal throttling.[17] Available colors evolved across generations, starting with silver, gold, and space gray upon its 2015 launch. Rose gold was introduced in the 2016 update, expanding aesthetic options while maintaining the same anodized aluminum finish for color consistency and scratch resistance.[18] Durability is enhanced by precision CNC machining of the aluminum body, which provides rigidity despite the ultra-thin profile, along with reinforced hinges that support the display's full range of motion without flexing. Later models from 2017 incorporate a highly recyclable aluminum enclosure, contributing to environmental sustainability goals, including beryllium-free construction and compliance with ENERGY STAR standards.[19] The battery is seamlessly integrated into the unibody chassis, with capacity increasing from 39.7 watt-hours in the 2015 model to 41.4 watt-hours in later models starting in 2016, enabling up to 10 hours of wireless web browsing on a full charge.[6] This design maximizes internal space efficiency, positioning the lithium-polymer cells to support the device's all-day portability claims.[3]Input Devices
The 12-inch MacBook featured Apple's butterfly keyboard mechanism, introduced with the 2015 model as a low-profile design that replaced the traditional scissor-switch architecture to achieve a thinner profile while maintaining key stability through a lever-like structure with a steel dome under each keycap.[1] This mechanism made the overall keyboard 34 percent thinner than previous models, with individual LED backlighting for all 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) keys, including a full row of 12 physical function keys and dedicated arrow keys, adjusted for the compact chassis.[3] An ambient light sensor automatically illuminates the keys in low-light conditions. However, the butterfly design proved prone to mechanical failures, such as stuck or unresponsive keys and repeated character input, often triggered by minor debris accumulation under the shallow keycaps.[20] The laptop's Force Touch trackpad integrates haptic feedback via an internal Taptic Engine to simulate physical clicks without moving parts, enabling pressure-sensitive interactions across its entire surface.[21] This allows for advanced Multi-Touch gestures, Force clicks for right-clicking or contextual actions, and variable pressure levels for tasks like drawing or scrolling, with customizable sensitivity settings in macOS.[3] The trackpad's larger size relative to the device's 11.04-inch width provides precise cursor control despite the overall compactness.[21] Positioned at the top center of the display bezel, the 12-inch MacBook includes a 480p FaceTime HD webcam for video calls and basic imaging, supporting standard macOS camera features without advanced capabilities like higher resolution or depth sensing.[3]Hardware Specifications
Processor and Performance
The 12-inch MacBook utilized low-power dual-core Intel processors from the Broadwell, Skylake, and Kaby Lake architectures across its model years, optimized for the device's fanless, ultrathin design with a 5W thermal design power (TDP) envelope.[3] The initial Early 2015 model featured Intel Core M processors at base clock speeds of 1.1 GHz to 1.3 GHz, with Turbo Boost capabilities up to 2.9 GHz, enabling efficient handling of everyday computing while prioritizing battery life and portability.[3] Subsequent updates in 2016 and 2017 refined this approach with newer generations, incrementally improving clock speeds and efficiency without altering the core philosophy of passive cooling.[5][6]| Year | Processor Options | Base Clock | Turbo Boost | Architecture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early 2015 | Intel Core M (M-5Y31, M-5Y51, M-5Y71) | 1.1–1.3 GHz | Up to 2.4–2.9 GHz | Broadwell |
| Early 2016 | Intel Core m3 (m3-6Y30), m5 (m5-6Y54), m7 (m7-6Y75) | 1.1–1.3 GHz | Up to 2.2–3.1 GHz | Skylake |
| Mid-2017 | Intel Core m3 (m3-7Y32), i5 (i5-7Y54), i7 (i7-7Y75) | 1.2–1.4 GHz | Up to 3.0–3.6 GHz | Kaby Lake |
Memory, Storage, and Display
The 12-inch MacBook utilized soldered LPDDR3 memory that could not be upgraded by users after purchase. The Early 2015 model was equipped with 8 GB of 1600 MHz LPDDR3 RAM.[3] The Early 2016 model upgraded to 8 GB of 1866 MHz LPDDR3.[5] The 2017 model retained the 1866 MHz LPDDR3 standard but introduced an optional configuration of 16 GB, doubling the capacity available at the time of purchase.[6] Storage in the 12-inch MacBook consisted of non-upgradable PCIe-based onboard SSDs offered in 256 GB or 512 GB capacities across all models.[3][5][6] These SSDs provided sequential read speeds up to approximately 1,500 MB/s and write speeds up to 1,000 MB/s in the 2016 and 2017 models, representing a significant improvement over the 2015 version's roughly 700 MB/s reads and 500 MB/s writes.[27][28] The laptop featured a 12-inch IPS LED-backlit Retina display with a native resolution of 2304 × 1440 pixels at 226 pixels per inch, supporting millions of colors and a 16:10 aspect ratio.[3][5][6] Brightness reached 300 nits, suitable for indoor use but less vibrant in bright environments compared to higher-end models.[29] Unlike the MacBook Pro lineup, it lacked a Touch Bar. Audio capabilities included built-in stereo speakers optimized for clarity and volume in a compact form factor, with the 2017 model delivering enhanced bass response for better low-end reproduction during media playback.[6] A dual microphone array supported clear voice capture for calls and recordings, aided by beamforming technology to reduce background noise.[3][5][6]Connectivity and Accessories
Ports and Charging
The 12-inch MacBook features a single USB-C port as its primary connection for charging, data transfer, video output, and peripherals, marking a significant simplification in I/O options compared to previous MacBook models. This port supports USB 3.1 Gen 1 data transfer speeds of up to 5 Gbps, allowing connectivity to USB devices via adapters or hubs. It also enables native DisplayPort 1.2 video output, which can drive one external display up to 5K resolution (5120x2880) at 60 Hz when using a compatible USB-C to DisplayPort adapter. Additionally, video adapters sold separately support VGA, HDMI, DVI, or Thunderbolt outputs, though the port itself does not include native Thunderbolt 3 functionality.[3][6] The absence of traditional ports such as an SD card slot, Ethernet, or MagSafe power connector underscores the device's ultraportable design but limits direct connectivity, often necessitating USB-C hubs or docks for multi-peripheral use or simultaneous charging and expansion. A 3.5 mm headphone jack is included for analog audio input and output, supporting stereo speakers and high-impedance headphones up to 150 ohms. However, for users requiring additional ports, third-party USB-C multiport adapters are essential, as the single port cannot handle charging and multiple high-bandwidth connections without such accessories.[3][6] Charging is handled exclusively through the USB-C port using a compact USB-C power adapter and included USB-C charge cable. Early 2015 models ship with a 29W USB-C power adapter, providing up to 9 hours of wireless web usage on a full charge. Starting with the 2016 update, the battery increased to 41.4-watt-hour capacity for improved endurance. All models include a 29W USB-C power adapter and support USB Power Delivery (PD) for charging. The design eliminates the proprietary MagSafe connector, relying instead on reversible USB-C for a more universal charging standard.[3][6][30]Included Accessories
The 12-inch MacBook, across its 2015, 2016, and 2017 models, shipped with a minimal set of standard accessories focused on basic charging needs. Each configuration included the MacBook itself, a USB-C charge cable measuring 2 meters in length, and a compact 29W USB-C power adapter.[3][5][6] Apple offered an optional extended warranty program called AppleCare+ for the 12-inch MacBook, which could be purchased at the time of buying the device or within 60 days afterward. This plan extended the standard one-year limited warranty and 90-day complimentary technical support to up to three years, adding coverage for accidental damage with a service fee per incident. To address the device's single USB-C port—which limited simultaneous charging and peripheral connectivity—Apple recommended several official adapters as complementary accessories. These included the USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter for video output and additional USB ports, and the USB-C to USB Adapter for connecting legacy USB-A devices. Starting with the 2017 model, Apple also endorsed USB-C hubs that provided multiple ports, such as HDMI, Ethernet, and extra USB options, to expand functionality without interrupting charging.[31] No protective case or sleeve was included in the box, leaving users to source these separately. Third-party manufacturers like Incase offered form-fitting neoprene sleeves specifically designed for the 12-inch MacBook's compact dimensions, providing padded protection for portability.[32]Software Support
macOS Compatibility
The 12-inch MacBook line, introduced in early 2015, shipped with versions of OS X and macOS tailored to each model's release. The initial Early 2015 model came pre-installed with OS X 10.10 Yosemite, while the Early 2016 update shipped with OS X 10.11 El Capitan, and the Mid-2017 model with macOS 10.12 Sierra.[33][34][16] All models received free upgrades to subsequent compatible macOS releases via Apple's Software Update mechanism, extending their software lifespan beyond initial shipment. Compatibility varied by model due to incremental hardware improvements, particularly in processor generations (Intel Core M series). The Early 2015 model supports upgrades through macOS Big Sur 11, including intermediate versions such as OS X El Capitan 10.11 (2015), macOS Sierra 10.12 (2016), High Sierra 10.13 (2017), Mojave 10.14 (2018), and Catalina 10.15 (2019).[35] The Early 2016 model extends to macOS Monterey 12, adding support for Big Sur 11 (2020) and Monterey 12 (2021). The Mid-2017 model reaches macOS Ventura 13, incorporating Monterey 12 (2021) and Ventura 13 (2022).[36][37]| Model | Shipped OS | Maximum Supported macOS | Key Intermediate Updates Supported |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early 2015 | OS X 10.10 Yosemite | macOS 11 Big Sur | El Capitan, Sierra, High Sierra, Mojave, Catalina |
| Early 2016 | OS X 10.11 El Capitan | macOS 12 Monterey | Sierra, High Sierra, Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur |
| Mid-2017 | macOS 10.12 Sierra | macOS 13 Ventura | High Sierra, Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey |
