Apple made a number of exciting announcements at WWDC 2017 and, as expected, the MacBook got some neat upgrades to spice things up.
The 12-inch MacBook received a considerable spec bump, getting the latest Intel Kaby Lake (seventh generation) processors and a notable boost in performance, speed and battery life. The solid-state drive storage should translate to an up to 50 percent increase in performance.
Apple MacBook Update
Apple has also boosted the amount of RAM, now maxing out at 16 GB instead of the previous 8 GB.
"With thin and light designs, powerful performance, amazing displays and all-day battery life, Mac notebooks deliver the world's best portable computing experience," Apple touts. "MacBook is our thinnest and lightest notebook for all-day, on-the-go computing."
The company also says the keyboard of the new MacBook also received an upgrade to be more like the MacBook Pro, which means it should be more responsive. Otherwise, not much has changed. Apple is still pitching the 12-inch MacBook as a sleek and slim notebook with a Retina display, decent specs, and high portability, but it won't blow you out of the water. The meager webcam received no upgrades, which means it still offers only a 480p resolution.
The new MacBook starts at $1,299 for the entry-level model with Core m3 and 256 GB of storage, and goes up to $1,949 for higher-end specs. Some might still find the MacBook a tad expensive for what it has to offer, especially considering that comparable Windows notebooks with similar specs are more affordable, but Apple has always had a loyal fan base.
Those looking for a more powerful device with some extra oomph, however, should consider the beefier MacBook Pro, which also got neat upgrades.
Apple MacBook Pro 2017 Update
The refreshed 13-inch MacBook Pro, meanwhile, packs Intel Kaby Lake processors up to Core i7 3.5 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 4.0 GHz, and the 15-inch model packs up to Core i7 3.1 GHz with up to 4.1 GHz with Turbo Boost. Apple also packed beefier discrete graphics with extra video memory for the 15-inch MacBook Pro, while the 13-inch model got a new $1,299 configuration in the United States.
Otherwise, the MacBook Pro still sports the intriguing Touch Bar with Touch ID, a bright 500-nit Retina display, powerful performance, Thunderbolt 3, and more.
Lastly, Apple also announced a slight upgrade for the 13-inch MacBook Air, which now features a 1.8 GHz processor. It's a truly minor change, however, moving up from 1.6 GHz to 1.8 GHz, but it's still a fifth-generation Intel processor (Broadwell) and not the newer seventh generation (Kaby Lake). That said, the change should translate to a slight speed bump, but that's about it.
The new Apple MacBook refreshed models are already available through the company's store, with retail availability slated for June 7. Does any of these new MacBook models seem attractive enough to warrant a purchase, or are the upgrades not good enough? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
