They say it’s what’s on the inside that counts, and for the latest update to an Apple computer, the saying is dead on.
This week, Apple has put an end to any rumours of a new MacBook being released by releasing a new MacBook, as the ultra-slim and super svelte MacBook from last year gets an update to bring it into 2016 well and truly.
Inside this update, Apple has replaced the Intel Core M from 2015 with a new generation of that chipset, which now offers three options in the form of the m3, m5, or m7 processors, depending on what sort of speeds you need.
The m3 handles the lightest load and is probably comparable to last year’s model, while the m5 and m7 can take a bit more grunt, with these chips basically the mobile low-power equivalent to the i5 and i7 processors.
These chips are part of Intel’s sixth-generation range, also known as “Skylake”, and the enhancements deliver faster speeds, better graphics performance, and even some improvements to battery life.
Those improvements come in real numbers, with Apple suggesting you’ll get up to ten (10) hours of wireless web browsing and up to 11 of iTunes movie playback, suggesting between 8 and 10 of real-world usage for every day work and life.
Apple has also updated the storage on the inside with what it claims is faster PCIe-based flash, suggesting we could be seeing M2 SSDs in this model, similar to what Samsung launched last year, possibly offering speeds up to 2GB per second.
“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, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing at Apple.
“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 outside hasn’t changed much, or even at all, with the same metal body and the one USB Type C port on the left side while the 3.5mm headset jack sits on the right, but now you get the option of a rose gold model, ideal if you have one of those rose gold iPhones or iPads.
Otherwise, the machine is still the same, with 802.11ac WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, with 8GB RAM standard across the range and the option of either 256GB or 512GB storage.
Pricing in Australia starts at $1999 with this model literally replacing the regular MacBook — yesterday’s MacBook, actually — with the entry-level model arriving with an Intel Core m3 processor and 256GB storage, while the slightly more expensive model comes with an m5 and 512GB storage for $2449.
Availability is now at Apple’s online presence today and physical retail stores tomorrow, while a made-to-order option can arrive with a Core m7 processor if you need that grunt in a light-weight machine.
