Apple Updates 12-inch MacBook with Faster Processors, Better Battery Life, New Rose Gold Option, More

A much need upgrade has taken place in Apple’s product line. The company has finally updated the internal specs of their Retina 12-inch MacBook with faster processors, better graphics, improved RAM, and a new Rose Gold finish. Apple claims the new models also deliver better battery life. More on that in just a few moments…

The processors in question are sixth-generation Intel Core M chips with speeds clocked at 1.1GHz, 1.2GHz, and 1.3GHz and Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.1 GHz. The new MacBooks also include faster 1866 MHz memory and Intel HD Graphics 515 that can deliver up to 25% faster graphics performance. Also loaded inside is an extra hour of battery life which is most likely due to the more efficient processors inside. Apple claims up to 10 hours of wireless web browsing and up to 11 hours of iTunes movie playback can be consumed from 100% battery life to 0% battery life. That’s pretty good, especially since there’s a cheaper MacBook available that can deliver a potential 16 hours of battery life.

One thing that hasn’t changed is the single USB-C port on the left side. No changes have taken place here which is a bit unfortunate since recent rumors suggested Thunderbolt 3 support would be included in the upgraded MacBooks for 2016.

Apple’s SVP of Marketing Phil Schiller released a statement on his and Apple’s excitement about the latest MacBooks and what their vision of the future of the notebook is:

“MacBook is the thinnest and lightest Mac we have ever made and it’s our vision for the future of the notebook,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “Customers are going to love this update to MacBook, with the latest processors, faster graphics, faster flash storage, longer battery life and a beautiful rose gold finish.”

The new 12-inch MacBook comes in two different models, with one featuring a 1.1GHz processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of flash storage for $1,299 and one featuring a 1.2GHz processor, 8GB of RAM, and 512GB of flash storage for $1,599. Customers can also configure their MacBooks with a 1.3GHz processor for an presumably extra $200.

In addition to the upgrades made to the MacBook, Apple has also made 8GB of RAM standard across all configurations of the 13-inch MacBook Air.

Here’s Apple’s full press release for the new MacBooks for reference:

Apple Updates MacBook with Latest Processors, Longer Battery Life & New Rose Gold Finish

CUPERTINO, California ― April 19, 2016 ― Apple® today updated MacBook® with the latest Intel processors, improved graphics performance, faster flash storage and an additional hour of battery life, making the thinnest and lightest Mac® better than ever. Featuring an all-metal unibody enclosure, MacBook is now available in four aluminum finishes — gold, silver, space gray, and for the first time on a Mac, a gorgeous rose gold. With a stunning 12-inch Retina® display, highly responsive full-size keyboard, Force Touch trackpad, versatile USB-C port and all-day battery life in a design that is just 2 pounds and 13.1 mm thin, MacBook is the future of the notebook.
“MacBook is the thinnest and lightest Mac we have ever made and it’s our vision for the future of the notebook,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “Customers are going to love this update to MacBook, with the latest processors, faster graphics, faster flash storage, longer battery life and a beautiful rose gold finish.”
The updated MacBook features sixth-generation dual-core Intel Core M processors up to 1.3 GHz, with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.1 GHz, and faster 1866 MHz memory. New Intel HD Graphics 515 deliver up to 25 percent faster graphics performance, and faster PCIe-based flash storage makes everyday tasks feel snappier — from launching apps to opening files.* And now with up to 10 hours of wireless web browsing and up to 11 hours of iTunes® movie playback, MacBook is the perfect notebook for all day, on-the-go computing.**
MacBook comes with the incredibly small and versatile USB-C port for charging, data transfer and video output in a single connector that is one-third the size of a traditional USB port. Following the introduction of USB-C on MacBook, the ecosystem of Apple and third-party USB-C accessories has continued to grow, giving users added flexibility and capability.
With no moving parts or vents, MacBook is entirely fanless for silent, efficient performance. Designed for the wireless world, MacBook is equipped with the latest wireless technologies, including built-in 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 for fast wireless connectivity. It is perfect for tasks like streaming content from your MacBook to your Apple TV® using AirPlay®, exchanging files quickly using AirDrop® or using wireless headphones.
Apple also today made 8GB of memory standard across all configurations of the 13-inch MacBook Air®.
Every new Mac comes with OS X® El Capitan, the latest version of OS X that refines the Mac experience and improves system performance. El Capitan builds on the groundbreaking features and beautiful design of OS X Yosemite, with updates to window management, built-in apps and Spotlight® search, and performance improvements to make everyday activities — like launching and switching apps, opening PDFs and accessing email — faster and more responsive.
iMovie®, GarageBand® and the suite of iWork® apps come free with every new Mac. iMovie lets you easily create beautiful movies and you can use GarageBand to make music, or learn to play piano and guitar. The iWork suite of Pages®, Numbers® and Keynote® makes it easy to create, edit and share stunning documents, spreadsheets and presentations. Pages, Numbers and Keynote for iCloud® let you create a document on iPhone® or iPad®, edit it on your Mac and collaborate with friends, even if they are on a PC.
Pricing & Availability
MacBook is available through Apple.com starting today, and in Apple’s retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers starting tomorrow. MacBook comes with a 1.1 GHz dual-core Intel Core m3 processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 2.2 GHz, 8GB of memory and 256GB of flash storage for $1,299 (US), and with a 1.2 GHz dual-core Intel Core m5 processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 2.7 GHz, 8GB of memory and 512GB of flash storage for $1,599 (US). Configure-to-order options include a 1.3 GHz dual-core Intel Core m7 processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.1 GHz. Additional technical specifications and accessories are available online at www.apple.com/macbook.
*Testing conducted by Apple in April 2016 using preproduction MacBook configurations. For more information visit www.apple.com/macbook.
**The Wireless Web protocol testing was conducted by Apple in April 2016 using preproduction MacBook configurations. Battery life and charge cycles vary by use and settings. For more information visit www.apple.com/macbook.
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