References to 2016 12-Inch MacBook Spotted in OS X System Image Utility [Updated]

An updated 12-inch Retina MacBook may be launching before the end of April, according to information discovered in Apple's System Image Utility feature and in the OS X Server application by a source that shared details with 9to5Mac.

System Image Utility lists the existing early 2015 Retina MacBook and an early 2016 Retina MacBook, which has yet to be released. Given that it's earmarked as an "early" 2016 device, the next-generation Retina MacBook should be coming soon, as Apple refers to "early" for devices that launch during the first four months of the year. The same 12-inch early 2016 MacBook is listed the OS X Server application.

early_2016_macbook
The Retina MacBook first launched in April of 2015, so an April 2016 update at the one year mark makes sense. A refresh will likely be minor, leaving the overall design unchanged but introducing upgraded internals, such as one of Intel's Skylake chips.

Skylake chips appropriate for the Retina MacBook have been available since the later months of 2015. The new Core M Skylake processors offer 10 hours of battery life and 10 to 20 percent faster CPU performance compared to the Core M Broadwell processors used in the first-generation Retina MacBook, along with 40 percent faster graphics performance.

There are no mentions of new Retina MacBook Pro or MacBook Air models in OS X Server or System Image Utility, and it continues to remain unclear when exactly we might see refreshes for those machines.

A rumor yesterday suggested Apple is working on "ultra-thin" 13-inch and 15-inch MacBooks, but it is not known if those machines are in the MacBook, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air family. Apple is said to be targeting a June or July launch date for the mystery MacBooks, which lines up with a potential debut at the Worldwide Developers Conference.

Update: Additional investigation of OS X 10.11.4 by Pike's Universum has led to details on the low-power Skylake processors Apple will likely use in the 2016 12-inch MacBooks, which are in line with expectations.

References to the Core m3-6Y30, Core m5-6Y54, and Core m7-6Y75 have been found.

The low-end Core m3-6Y30 succeeds the Core M-5Y31 and will likely be used in the entry-level 12-inch MacBook, which Apple sells for $1,299. The middle tier Core m5-6Y54 replaces the Core M-5Y51 and is likely to be used in the higher-end 12-inch MacBook Apple sells for $1,599, while the high-end Core m7-6Y75 replaces the Core M-5Y71, the chip used in high-end 12-inch MacBook custom configurations.

Related Forum: MacBook

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Lower Logo Feature 1

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 14 New Features

Monday June 30, 2025 1:08 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are less than three months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max in September this year. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models:Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an...
A18 Pro Chip

New MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Spotted in Apple Code

Monday June 30, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
Apple is developing a MacBook with the A18 Pro chip, according to findings in backend code uncovered by MacRumors. Earlier today, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is planning to launch a low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone chip. The machine is expected to feature a 13-inch display, the A18 Pro chip, and color options that include silver, blue, pink, and yellow. MacRumors...
Apple Watch Ultra Night Mode Screen

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Launching Later This Year With Two Key Upgrades

Wednesday July 2, 2025 1:13 pm PDT by
The long wait for an Apple Watch Ultra 3 appears to be nearly over, and it is rumored to feature both satellite connectivity and 5G support. Apple Watch Ultra's existing Night Mode In his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is on track to launch this year with "significant" new features, including satellite connectivity, which would let you...
iPhone 17 Pro Lower Logo Magsafe

iPhone 17 Pro's New MagSafe Design Revealed in Leaked Photo

Wednesday July 2, 2025 8:37 am PDT by
The upcoming iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are rumored to have a slightly different MagSafe magnet layout compared to existing iPhone models, and a leaked photo has offered a closer look at the supposed new design. The leaker Majin Bu today shared a photo of alleged MagSafe magnet arrays for third-party iPhone 17 Pro cases. On existing iPhone models with MagSafe, the magnets form a...
macbook air spacegray purple

Apple Planning to Launch Low-Cost MacBook Powered By iPhone Chip

Monday June 30, 2025 3:20 am PDT by
Apple is planning to launch a low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone chip, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In an article published on X, Kuo explained that the device will feature a 13-inch display and the A18 Pro chip, making it the first Mac powered by an iPhone chip. The A18 Pro chip debuted in the iPhone 16 Pro last year. To date, all Apple silicon Macs have contained M-series...
iOS 18

Apple Releases Second iOS 18.6 Public Beta

Tuesday July 1, 2025 10:19 am PDT by
Apple today seeded the second betas of upcoming iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 updates to public beta testers, with the betas coming just a day after Apple provided the betas to developers. Apple has also released a second beta of macOS Sequoia 15.6. Testers who have signed up for beta updates through Apple's beta site can download iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 from the Settings app on a compatible...
Wi Fi WiFi General Feature

iOS 26 Adds a Useful New Wi-Fi Feature to Your iPhone

Wednesday July 2, 2025 6:36 am PDT by
iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 add a smaller yet useful Wi-Fi feature to iPhones and iPads. As spotted by Creative Strategies analyst Max Weinbach, sign-in details for captive Wi-Fi networks are now synced across iPhones and iPads running iOS 26 and iPadOS 26. For example, while Weinbach was staying at a Hilton hotel, his iPhone prompted him to fill in Wi-Fi details from his iPad that was already...
maxresdefault

Five Features Coming to AirPods Pro 3

Friday June 27, 2025 10:52 am PDT by
Apple hasn't updated the AirPods Pro since 2022, and the earbuds are due for a refresh. We're counting on a new model this year, and we've seen several hints of new AirPods tucked away in Apple's code. Rumors suggest that Apple has some exciting new features planned that will make it worthwhile to upgrade to the latest model. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Heal...
replay all time playlist apple music

Apple Music Debuts All-New Personalized Playlist

Monday June 30, 2025 7:16 am PDT by
As part of its 10-year celebrations of Apple Music, Apple today released an all-new personalized playlist that collates your entire listening history. The playlist, called "Replay All Time," expands on Apple Music's existing Replay features. Previously, users could only see their top songs for each individual calendar year that they've been subscribed to Apple Music, but now, Replay All...

Top Rated Comments

sniffies Avatar
121 months ago
My girlfriend has never been satisfied with 12 inches. So I surprised her with a bigger one for her birthday.
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fenderbass146 Avatar
121 months ago
Cool good news.

I wish Apple would simplify there line up.

Rebrand the Current Macbook as Macbook Air and kill the current Macbook Airs, release a 14" macbook with less bezel so it remains the roughly the size of the 13" Pro. Same thing for the Macbook Pro. Make it only a 16" model in the footprint of the 15" of today.

Macbook Air 12" (Fanless, entry level)
Macbook 14" (Thinner but not as thin as current macbook with roughly the same footprint as the current 13" Pro)
Macbook Pro 16" (Same footprint but a little thinner then the current 15" Pro. Two models. One with high end intergrated graphcis and another with dedicated.)


I would buy that 14" in a heartbeat.

I fear Apple is going back to the 90's era with to many product lines and devices. It should really be simplified.

Macbook Air
Macbook
Macbook Pro

Mac Mini
iMac
Mac Pro

iPad Mini
iPad (Drop the Air moniker or give it to the mini)
iPad Pro

iPhone Mini/Air/SE
iPhone
iPhone Pro/Plus
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Benjamin Frost Avatar
121 months ago
Wish it said 13", 15" or 17".
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Johnny Vegas Avatar
121 months ago
I didn't realize Apple was still in the personal computer business. Glad to see they are still working on new models ;)
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
~Shard~ Avatar
121 months ago
Cool good news.

I wish Apple would simplify there line up.

Rebrand the Current Macbook as Macbook Air and kill the current Macbook Airs, release a 14" macbook with less bezel so it remains the roughly the size of the 13" Pro. Same thing for the Macbook Pro. Make it only a 16" model in the footprint of the 15" of today.

Macbook Air 12" (Fanless, entry level)
Macbook 14" (Thinner but not as thin as current macbook with roughly the same footprint as the current 13" Pro)
Macbook Pro 16" (Same footprint but a little thinner then the current 15" Pro. Two models. One with high end intergrated graphcis and another with dedicated.)


I would buy that 14" in a heartbeat.

I fear Apple is going back to the 90's era with to many product lines and devices. It should really be simplified.

Macbook Air
Macbook
Macbook Pro

Mac Mini
iMac
Mac Pro

iPad Mini
iPad (Drop the Air moniker or give it to the mini)
iPad Pro

iPhone Mini/Air/SE
iPhone
iPhone Pro/Plus
Thank you, this is exactly what I said in another thread. When Steve came back in the late 90s he took a convoluted product line and simplified it down to 4 products. I realize we now have the iPhone, iPad, iWatch, etc. now, but still, it does appear to be getting more and more confusing as of late.

Come on Apple, simplicity is the ultimate sophistication!
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bigandtasty Avatar
121 months ago
My girlfriend has never been satisfied with 12 inches. So I surprised her with a bigger one for her birthday.
Did she let you watch? ;)
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)