Apple has reinvented the MacBook, introducing the super-svelte, 13.1mm-thick new MacBook at a launch event in California.
Pairing this streamlined redesign with the addition of a Retina display, the new 12-inch MacBook is looking to redefine the notebook market.
“The definition of portability has changed in recent years because of the iPhone and iPad,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said in unveiling the new device.
“We challenged ourselves to take what we’d learned from the iPhone and iPad and use it.
New MacBook Features
First things first, the new MacBook will be defined by its stunning new look.
Lining up at a mere 13.1mm thick at its fattest point, the new model is 24 per cent slimmer than the company’s formerly slimmest devices, the 17.3mm-fat MacBook Air.
This is also the first fanless MacBook, silent in operation, and has kept its thickness down thanks to a new unibody architecture design.
All of the computer’s components have shrunk, too. With a logic board 67 per cent smaller than that on its predecessor, Apple has crammed more power into a smaller space.
The new MacBook is powered by the latest Intel Core M chipset. The 1.3GHz processor can be TurboCharge to 2.9GHz for all your heavy-duty work needs. Further specs on the entry-level model will see 8GB of RAM line up alongside a 256SSD.
Despite cutting down its size, the new MacBook will not skimp on battery life. Thanks to new, terraced, contoured battery cells that fit the angles and curves of the MacBook’s design, Apple has squeezed in 35 per cent more battery capacity into the same space.
The result is all-day staying power. Apple has promised the Mac will offer 9 hours of wireless web access on a single charge. For those with more entertainment-based needs, you will be able to eke 10 hours of movie viewing before needing to return to charge.
Movies will look great too. The new MacBook features a 12-inch Retina display. This 0.88mm-thin panel features a 2304 x 1440-pixel resolution. That’s a stunning 3.3 million pixels in total.
In terms of connectivity options, the new MacBook is both lacking and packed at the same time. Featuring just a single USB-C port, the device does away with excessive connections.
Related: What is USB-C?
This single port is a third of size of a standard USB port and cables are reversible for more intuitive inserting.
What’s more, the single port will be able to double as a USB, DisplayPort, power, HDMI and VGA port.
Benefitting from a full metal enclosure, further new additions to the new MacBook include the addition of a reworked trackpad.
Dubbed the ‘Force Touch trackpad’ this improved input option features a four-force sensor and taptic engine to offer feedback for your clicking.
With the new trackpad you can click anywhere and get the same feel. You can also adjust the feel to suit your needs and preferences using the integrated software.
New MacBook Release Date and Price
Those keen to snap up the new MacBook will not have to wait long to get their hands on the device. An official release date has been confirmed for April 10.
Prices, as you might expect, aren’t exactly cheap. The entry-level offering will set you back £1,049. This rises to £1,299 with a few spec bumps.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
