Superpower: Macbook Pro And Air Models Refreshed

As Apple bids farewell to the MacBook for a second time, we take a closer look at its history, explore whether there’s a gap in the market for a 12-inch model, and get hands-on with the new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air notebooks which serve as the MacBook’s successors…

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MACBOOK: APPLE KILLS ITS LIGHTEST NOTEBOOK

In an effort to clean up the Mac family and add some distinction to each product line, Apple announced plans to kill off the iconic 12-inch MacBook notebook it revived back in 2015. Apple’s lightest ever notebook lasted just four years under three generations, prompting many to question Apple’s new approach to hardware and mourn what was one of the company’s most innovative laptops. Considered Apple’s “coolest” MacBook, the 12-inch model certainly wasn’t the most powerful Mac ever made, but it offered students and light users the ability to access the macOS ecosystem at an affordable price, and take advantage of the incredible applications that come alongside it.

When Apple first announced it was reviving the standalone MacBook brand four years ago, many praised the company for offering a portable version of macOS in a body that felt both practical and discreet, offering enough power for everyday computing, without chugging around a heavy and expensive MacBook Pro, or the then-underpowered MacBook Air. At the time of its release, the MacBook pre-dated the iPad Pro with Smart Keyboard, so for users always on the go, the MacBook was the preferred choice, offering an ergonomic design which compared favourably to the iPad in a keyboard case (MacBooks are still favoured over tablets and smartphones by busy professionals, as they afford them more flexibility).