On June 5th 2017, Apple released the third and final iteration of the 12″ MacBook, marking the end of the line for this model, as with using the name “MacBook” by itself to refer to an Apple notebook. The A1534 is produced for another 2 years through July 9th 2019, and the “MacBook” name is survived by the MacBook Air, along with the MacBook Pro. Time will tell when this name is revived again to refer to a newer ‘Book.

The Mid-2017 model carries some of the upgrades given to it from the previous year, and tops out with a newer Kaby Lake i7-7Y75 1.4 GHz CPU. Users who own the m3 model and have also tested the i7, say the m3 is a better buy. The chassis is not at all designed to handle higher end CPUs, which results in the i7 throttling after providing quick bursts of performance boosts. The m3 does better at sustained performance, and users say it feels about the same as the i7’s throttled sustained performance.

To paraphrase n1c0_ds from reddit: It’s good for ultra-light web browsing, developing, getting familiar with Mac, but it’s slow. You begin to feel its limits using heavy web-based apps, launching macOS apps, multitasking, and running things in the background. Still, it can run quite a few web browser tabs without breaking a sweat. Think of this ‘Book as an older iPad running macOS.

The infamous Butterfly Keyboard

The main deal comes down to the way the butterfly keyboard is designed in and of itself. The hinge in the middle that holds together the two keyboard switch parts, allows a lot of gunk to get into it. Then, the key gets stuck, could repeat-type the same character, or just stop working altogether. Akin to the world of automotive development, this keyboard is more like a functional concept, a piece better left admired and looked at, even if functional.

A better screen than the MacBook Air

There was no competition between this and the MacBook Air’s screen at the time.. not at least until the following year, with the release of the refreshed Intel MacBook Air. We’re talking 236 PPI, retina, @ 2304 x 1440 pixels. That’s an additional 600 horizontal, and 400 vertical pixels over the 17″ Hi-Res PowerBook G4.. shoved into a 12″ screen. It’s an IPS TFT active matrix liquid crystal display (uses transistors to control each pixel), that’s LED-backlit, and comes in a 16:10 aspect ratio.

Force Touch Trackpad

Introducing a brand new type of trackpad, to quote that same article as earlier by The Verge.. “The Force Touch Trackpad feels like an impossible object”. Pads underneath detect pressure, and they say there’s an electromagnet which simulates the feel of a click when you press down. This was designed out of necessity, with how thin the 12″ ‘Book is. The Force Touch Trackpad ends up sticking around for the long haul on all ‘Books thereon out, becoming the norm. When it’s off, it can’t even be clicked. Only when it’s on and registers touch, can it even be clicked – pretty sweet. Did we mention the trackpad can be clicked down anywhere on it..? Leaps and bounds better over anything that came before it.. makes a PowerBook’s trackpad feel like a dinosaur.

New Battery Tech

Apple claims they changed the internal structure and chemistry of the cells, being manufactured in distinct shapes, layered on top of each other. This allows for a maximal use of physical space within the space constraints of the chassis design, allowing for better battery life relative to previous battery technologies and configurations.

What You Need to Know

• These ‘Books shipped with 8 GB of RAM which is fine for basic tasks, but is increasingly impractical these days. For a serious speed boost, opt for 16 GB. The ’15 and ’16 model year had no option except 8 GB, this was the only 12″ MacBook with a 16 GB (+$200) option. There are no RAM slots, you cannot replace the RAM on your own without soldiering.
• This new MacBook uses Intel HD graphics, and continues the trend of “vampire video” (that’s where the video bites into system memory). The 2006 Mac mini was the first Mac in a long, long time to do this, and other Intel Macs with HD/UHD graphics do this as well.

Closed Lid Mode: All ‘Books support “lid closed” (or clamshell) mode, which leaves the built-in display off and dedicates all video RAM to an external display. To use closed lid mode, your ‘Book must be plugged into the AC adapter and connected to an external display and a USB or Bluetooth mouse and keyboard (you might also want to consider external speakers). Power up your ‘Book until the desktop appears on the external display and then close the lid. Your ‘Book will go to sleep, but you can wake it by moving the mouse or using the keyboard. The built-in display will remain off, and the external monitor will become your only display.

To resume use of the internal display, you need to disconnect the external display, put the computer to sleep, and then open the lid. This will wake up your ‘Book and restore use of the built-in display.

Battery life is claimed to be 10 hours of wireless productivity, 12 hours of iTunes movie playback, and up to 30 days of standby time.

Details

• Announced 2017.06.05
• Model: A1534 (EMC 3099)
• Identifier: MacBook10,1
• Order Number: MNYH2LL/A (Silver)
  • MNYM2LL/A (Rose Gold)
  • MRQN2LL/A (Warm Gold)
  • MNYF2LL/A (Space Gray)

Mac OS

• Requires OS X 10.12.5 Sierra (Build 16F2073)
  • Officially supported through macOS 13.7.1 Ventura, but can run Sequoia via OCLP.

Core System

Note: All 3 CPUs support Hardware Virtualization for VM’s. Kaby Lake architecture.

Legend: L1i = L1 Instruction Cache, L1d = L1 Data cache

CPU socket type: FCBGA1515

• Intel Core m3-7Y32 ($1299): 2 Cores, 4 Threads, 1.2 Ghz (600 Mhz-1.6 GHz configurable)
  • 3.75-7W TDP, 3 GHz Turbo, 14nm, Per-Core: 32KB L1, 256KB L2, Shared: 4 MB L3
  • Comes with: MMX, SSE 1/2/3/E3/4.2, AVX1/2, EIST, Intel 64, XD Bit, VT-x, HTT
• Intel Core i5-7Y54 ($1599): 2 Cores, 4 Threads, 1.3 Ghz (600 Mhz-1.6 GHz configurable)
  • 3.75-7W TDP, 3.20 GHz Turbo, 14nm, Per-Core: 32KB L1, 256KB L2, Shared: 4 MB L3
  • Comes with: MMX, SSE 1/2/3/E3/4.2, AVX1/2, EIST, Intel 64, XD Bit, VT-x, HTT
• Intel Core i7-7Y75 ($1749): 2 Cores, 4 Threads, 1.4 Ghz (600 Mhz-1.6 GHz configurable)
  • 3.5-6W TDP, 3.60 GHz Turbo, 14nm, Per-Core: 32KB L1, 256KB L2, Shared: 4 MB L3
  • Comes with: MMX, SSE 1/2/3/E3/4.2, AVX1/2, EIST, Intel 64, XD Bit, VT-x, HTT

Memory

• All models: 8 or 16 GB 1866 MHz PC3L-14900 LPDDR3 SDRAM @29.8 GB/s
  • 16 GB option was (+$200)
  • Unfortunately, 16GB is the maximum option for all 3 CPUs even with soldiering.

Video

• GPU: Intel HD 615, 1536 MB
• 12″ IPS TFT LED-backlit LCD Retina display, 2304 x 1440 @236PPI
• Video out: Via USB-C, needs adapters.
  • Support for: DisplayPort 1.2, VGA, HDMI
• Dual display and mirroring: up to 4K30 with adapters, both at millions of colors.

Drives

• SSD: 256, PCIe 3.0 x2, (~1550 MB/s Read, ~1150 MB/s Write)
  • 512 GB option on i5/i7 options only
• Optical drive: External only

Expansion

• USB: 1x USB-C style USB 3.1 port
• 3.5mm headphone jack
  • Support for iPhone headset with remote and microphone
• WiFi: 802.11ac (a/g/b/n)
• Bluetooth: BT 4.2 built in
• 480p FaceTime Camera
• Dual Microphones
• Stereo speakers
• Charging via USB-C

Battery

• 10H Web / 12H iTunes Movies, 30 days standby.
• 41.4 W/h Li-Ion Polymer battery

Included Peripherals

• MacBook
• 29W Power Brick + Cord

Physical

• Size:H/W/D 0.14 – 0.52 x 11.04 x 7.74 in/0.35-1.31 x 28.05 x 19.65 cm
• Weight: 2.03 lb./0.92 kg