For its third iteration since its release in 2015, the 12-inch MacBook has managed to evolve from a niche machine reserved for fans to a notebook really public. This is thanks to some mainly internal enhancements that make it easier to choose instead of a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air.
What has not changed
The chassis of the MacBook has not evolved, ditto for the size and resolution of the screen. So, if it did not suit you before, it will still be the case. In addition, the connection is always limited to a single USB-C port that is not even compatible Thunderbolt. If you are used to using USB sticks, connecting a screen or any other external device, it will always be complicated. There is of course the option of the USB-C adapter , but it is impractical and you have to invest in a versatile model (USB-A, HDMI …) that can be expensive. In favor of USB-C, let’s say it is now more widespread than two years ago. Dell, HP and Samsung have adopted it and Apple uses it for its new MacBook Pro that have between 2 and 4.
The keyboard becomes more comfortable
The main recurring criticism about the first two generations of the 12-inch MacBook was its keyboard which, although very fast, did not offer a satisfactory tactile feedback. The keys were also found to be too different from the standard chicklet key format found on most laptops.
When the MacBook Pro adopted this type of keyboard extra flat in 2016, he was treated to a new mechanism that made the feeling of typing more pleasant. The 12-inch MacBook inherited this mechanism, which completely changes the feeling with a sound and a spring that we did not have before.
For typing hundreds of thousands of words on the previous two versions of this MacBook, we were very pleasantly surprised by this keyboard. If you had skipped this model because of his keyboard, visit this site because it’s time to give him a second chance.
More power under the hood
We move to the seventh generation of Intel “Kaby Lake” which are in fact chips of the family Core. This is a Core m3, designed for very thin laptops that have to offer a long battery life but are not cut for intensive multitasking or video editing. This processor is not as powerful as the Core i U series found in most high-end laptops. But all the same, it is powerful enough to ensure the daily tasks without problems: web, office, streaming.
The basic 12-inch MacBook starts at 1,499 dollars for the version with a Core m3, 8 GB of memory and 256 GB SSD and 1,799 dollars for the version with Core i5, 8 GB of Ram and 512 GB of SSD. Apple offers several options to upgrade to 16 GB of RAM (+240 dollars), opt for a Core i5 processor (+120 dollars) or Core i7 (+300 dollars). For the Core i5 Core MacBook, the Core i7 option is charged 180 dollars.
We tested the Core m3 model that performed as expected on multitasking and performance testing, faster than the previous generation MacBook, but not at a Core i5 processor. Regarding autonomy, the evolution is minimal compared to last year with 10h26mn. This still places it in the top of the cart for a laptop although many models under Windows are at this level now.
Conclusion
The 12-inch MacBook has remained fairly stable over these three generations, with the same chassis and Retina display. The only 480p front camera is still there, as is the single USB-C port.
However, improvements on the keyboard and new processors bring a real plus and we can say that we have the best version of this MacBook. The only thing that keeps us from making it the MacBook to choose from is that the MacBook Pro 13-inch (without Touch Bar) with a Core i5 dual-core 2.3GHz, 8GB Ram and 128 GB SSD is 1.499 dollars, the same price as the MacBook 12 inch Core m3. The first is an exercise in minimalism and the second is an all-public machine. Personally, as a great mobile user, we would opt for the 12-inch MacBook.