OUR VERDICT
Apple has given the MacBook's performance a much-needed boost, and it helps OS X zip along much better. Its critical flaws remain, but the 2016 version is less of a risk than it was last year. We just wish it was a bit cheaper.
FOR
- Gorgeous Rose Gold color
- Improved performance
- Terrific design
- Great speakers
AGAINST
- Single USB-C port
- No price cut?
- Controversial keyboard
No: the laptop I really wanted was a new MacBook Air, or even a redesigned 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro with a sleeker chassis. Of course, neither came. And like many other Air fans, I realised that another year was to pass by without Apple's best laptop getting an upgrade. So I bought the next best thing.
The MacBook is all about compromise. With more pixels than the Air, its display allows me to be more productive on the move and slinging it into a backpack almost feels like cheating. While no powerhouse (editing 4K images on it is slightly painful), it handles basic tasks with ease.
One year later, Apple has refreshed the MacBook with Intel's sixth-generation Skylake processors while introducing faster storage, memory and graphics for the same price. The most interesting change is on the outside: a new Rose Gold finish that genuinely makes me consider owning a shiny pink laptop for the first time. Gender stereotypes be damned.
But despite its upgrades, the new MacBook is not the MacBook Air replacement that rumors once again predict will arrive this summer - it's the same unique, dazzling and challenging laptop as the one that launched one year ago. Only faster, and with longer-lasting battery life.
A new processor, coupled with faster internal storage, memory and graphics has brought tangible improvements to the MacBook's performance. You'll still have to somehow manage with a single USB-C port, bolting on adapters and connectors to equip your FrankenMac with vital extra limbs.
And if you didn't get on with its super-shallow keyboard, your fingers will remain as unconvinced as they were before - especially during long typing sessions. The MacBook brings more megahertz, and I'm not talking about clock speed.
Recent developments
Since the rose gold addition to the MacBook family, rumors have already begun to arise of its successor. For instance, a patent filed last summer suggests the MacBook could see an update in the future featuring mobile LTE connectivityfor internet on the go. This could make Apple's thin-and-light a better option for portability as well as a more enticing iPad Pro alternative.
The MacBook Air 2016, on the other hand, has apparently been taking influence from 12-inch model's solo USB-C port with a reversible connection of its own. This would make sense considering the reports of a thinner form-factor resembling more closely the current MacBook line. This could indicate that the MacBook is not only here to stay, but may heavily impact the qualities of Apple's other computing lines.
Moreover, a recent leak shows that the MacBook may be getting TouchID support in its next rendition. This would be unsurprising given Apple's attempts at alternative authentication options in macOS, but would certainly require a fresh round of hardware rather than simply distributing a firmware update for true TouchID integration.
Big money Mac
Some people expected Apple to discount its refreshed MacBook to sweeten the deal. It didn't. The entry-level model still costs £1,049 ($1,299 or AUS$1,999), around $50/$73/AUS$99 more than the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro.
f the cost remains too high for you, then consider picking up last year's version from Apple's refurb store. While the 2016 refresh is technically the better machine, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the two when undertaking low-level tasks such as surfing the web or typing up documents in Pages.
At the time of writing, the entry-level version is on there for £749 (around $1,108 or AUS$1,457) alongside eight other models of varying specs and price.
Thanks for reading.
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