Apple's Rumored 12-Inch MacBook Could Be Pro Model With M2 Pro and M2 Max

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman on Thursday reported that Apple is considering launching an all-new 12-inch notebook at the end of 2023 or in early 2024. Gurman said it is unclear if the 12-inch model would be a low-end MacBook or a higher-end MacBook Pro.

2016 12 inch macbook feature
Twitter user "Majin Bu" has since claimed that the model will be a new 12-inch MacBook Pro that may be equipped with Apple's next-generation M2 Pro and M2 Max chips. In the MacBook Pro, Gurman said the M2 Max will feature a 12-core CPU and up to a 38-core GPU, while the M1 Max maxes out with a 10-core CPU and a 32-core GPU.

Apple has released both lower-end and higher-end 12-inch notebooks in the past. At the low end, Apple introduced an ultra-thin 12-inch MacBook that weighed just two pounds in 2015, but the notebook was discontinued in 2019. And at the higher end, Apple offered a 12-inch PowerBook G4 in the mid-2000s, prior to the original MacBook Pro.

In any case, Apple silicon chips deliver impressive performance per watt, paving the way for Apple to introduce ultra-portable, high-performance MacBooks without the thermal constraints of Intel processors that the company used over the last decade and a half.

Majin Bu has a hit-or-miss track record with Apple rumors, but he has gained some credibility recently after tweeting that Apple was planning a new 14.1-inch iPad Pro. The rumor has since been backed by very reliable display industry consultant Ross Young, who tweeted that his supply chain sources have confirmed that Apple is indeed planning a new 14.1-inch iPad Pro with a mini-LED display that could launch in 2023.

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Top Rated Comments

TSE Avatar
38 months ago
I'm back, bitches!




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Score: 98 Votes (Like | Disagree)
senttoschool Avatar
38 months ago

I agree. Not sure why Apple is even calling it the M2 chip. The chip is more like M1 (S). I honestly feel like it was put together very last minute.
Bad take.

M2 is using A15 cores. The performance is as expected.

You don't put chips like this together last minute. Engineers start planning chips 3-4 years before launch.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CPark98 Avatar
38 months ago
I kind of want to see this come to life. Lol


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Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
senttoschool Avatar
38 months ago
Not buying this rumor.

The thermals won't make any sense.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
1Peace Avatar
38 months ago
12-inch is way too small for professional usage when you need to spend long hours in front of it.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
UltimateSyn Avatar
38 months ago
That's an interesting claim. So we'd have...

12" / 14" / 16" MacBook Pro
13" / 15" MacBook Air

M2 Max in a 12" chassis, though? Sounds like it would be incredibly thermally limited.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)