CONNECT WITH US

Apple unveils new ultra-thin 12-inch MacBook

Press release; Joseph Tsai, DIGITIMES Asia

Apple has unveiled a new MacBook product line with every component having been redesigned to create a Mac that weighs two pounds and is 13.1mm thin, according to the vendor. The new MacBook features a 12-inch Retina display, a full-size keyboard, the new Force Touch trackpad, a USB-C port for data transfer, video out and charging in a single connector, and a new battery design. The new MacBook is available in three aluminum finishes - gold, silver and gray.

Measuring 13.1mm at its thickest point, the new MacBook design is 24% thinner than the 11-inch MacBook Air. With a new precision-milled unibody enclosure featuring integrated Wi-Fi antennas and a top case with polished stainless steel Apple logo.

The new keyboard is 34% thinner and uses an Apple-designed butterfly mechanism that is 40% thinner than a traditional keyboard scissor mechanism yet four times more stable, the vendor said.

The new MacBook features a 12-inch Retina display with a 16:10 aspect ratio and a resolution of 2,304 by 1,440. With a larger aperture for each pixel, the new Retina display is also efficient and uses 30% less energy than existing Mac notebook Retina displays, while delivering the same level of brightness, Apple said.

With no moving parts or vents, the new MacBook was designed to be the first fanless Mac notebook for silent, efficient performance. MacBook features the new fifth-generation Intel Core M processor that runs at 5W and Intel HD Graphics 5300.

The new MacBook also features a USB-C port. A new industry standard, USB-C supports higher wattage charging, USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5Gbps) data transfer and DisplayPort 1.2 all in a single connector that is one-third the size of a traditional USB port.

Every new Mac comes with OS X Yosemite, a redesigned and refined version of OS X.

The new MacBook will begin shipping on April 10. The MacBook comes with a 1.1GHz dual-core Intel Core M processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 2.4GHz, 8GB of memory, 256GB of flash storage and Intel HD Graphics 5300 starting at US$1,299; and with a 1.2GHz dual-core Intel Core M processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 2.6GHz, 8GB of memory, 512GB of flash storage and Intel HD Graphics 5300 starting at US$1,599.

Apple new 12-inch ultra-thin MacBook

Apple new 12-inch ultra-thin MacBook
Photo: Company