Apple Adds 2015 12-Inch Retina MacBook to Vintage Products List

[MacRumors]

Apple now considers the 2015 version of the 12-inch MacBook to be vintage, and has added the machine to its vintage products list as of today.

The 12-inch MacBook, also known as the "Retina MacBook," was meant to be a smaller, lighter version of the MacBook Air, and it was equipped with an Intel Core M processor. It was the smallest Mac with a Retina display, and it also featured a fanless design.

Apple continued updating the 12-inch MacBook in 2016 and 2017, but ultimately discontinued it in 2019 in favor of the updated MacBook Air with Retina display as the two machines were quite similar. When it was available, the 12-inch MacBook was priced at $1,299.

For most vintage products, the designation means that they're no longer eligible for repairs at the Genius Bar or from Apple Authorized Service Providers, but Apple does offer extended repairs of select vintage products. Devices are considered vintage when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than five and less than seven years ago.

Article Link: Apple Adds 2015 12-Inch Retina MacBook to Vintage Products List

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

My second favorite Mac I've ever owned (behind my G4 iMac). Love that guy and was more capable than most thought. And, of course, the portability.

 

[garotemonkey]

Bah. The Air is no replacement for this beautiful laptop. It was nearly an entire third lighter than the Air. A mobile computing dream. I do hope they bring it back as an M2 device…

 

[MICHAELSD]

It’s perplexing to have the 2012 Retina MacBook Pro on the obsolete list as well when the performance and display are still perfectly modern. I can’t even update to the latest macOS.

This is more understandable considering the overall lack of performance on the 12” MacBook. Apple Silicon is really the breakthrough we’ve all been waiting for to make portable Mac’s usable.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

RIP! Can’t wait for the new 2021 MacBooks to be unleashed.

 

[tyr2]

If this is ever relaunched with an M1 it would be an instant buy for me, it's just such a convenient form factor for working on the move.

 

[MICHAELSD]

If this is ever relaunched with an M1 it would be an instant buy for me, it's just such a convenient form factor for working on the move.

I wonder if there’s a demand for this compared to the 13” MacBook Air. It seemed like this was a product that wanted to be part of the Air lineup.

 

[cwwilson]

Gave mine to my mom when I picked up my MBP a while back. I think it should still suit her needs as long as it doesn’t get Big Sur installed on it, not sure how that would run on such a low power CPU.

Still though, what an amazing little laptop. I got the gold base model a couple months after they came out and it was the first brand new Mac purchase I had made since my 09 iMac and I was blown away by it. The trackpad was great and that retina screen was a game changer. No fan meant it was quiet as a mouse and it was thin and light enough to take it almost anywhere.

I wonder if Apple would ever consider bringing back the 12” MacBook and putting in an M1 in it? Place it just below the MBA? ?

 

[The 12th Man]

Still have and am using mine! Absolutely beautifully designed computer and still looks brand new to this day. The keyboard and its poor performance definitely undermined it however, and makes sense as to why its not supported on Monterey. Over half a decade old.. wow!

 

[JackieTreehorn]

I absolutely loved my gold 12” macbook, traveled all over the globe with it.

 

[DummyFool]

Never got to buy one because of the butterfly keyboard but I would love to see a newer version.

 

[bsamcash]

I wonder if the price on the used market will become more reasonable now. I'm always lusted for one as Linux machine for wardriving.

 

[FasterQuieter]

I owned the 2017 variant briefly. Beautiful machine, but too slow and strangely buggy. Froze up on me all the time.

 

[xraydoc]

Glad I traded in my gold 12" rMB for my 13" M1 MBA when I did. I suspect the trade-in values have dropped significantly.

 

[Rychiar]

don't get why they didn't kill the air lined just make MacBooks and MacBook pros. the air moniker is ridiculous in 2021

 

[warpdrive]

at 2lbs, it was a laptop I didn't mind bringing with me. If it had 2 ports, fixed keyboard and the M1, it would be the ultimate road warrior laptop

Too bad Apple didn't believe in it enough to update it.

 

[tgwaste]

One of the best products (and best laptop) they ever made. I'm still very hopeful we'll see the M1/2 version of this.

 

[coolfactor]

My main machine continues to be a 2013 MacBook Air. Zero performance issues (except when doing occassional software builds via MacPorts).

But I took the leap and ordered a new M1 MacBook Air. It arrives Friday. Will be the first Retina Mac that I've owned. My aging eyes will be thankful.

 

[cwwilson]

My main machine continues to be a 2013 MacBook Air. Zero performance issues (except when doing occassional software builds via MacPorts).

But I took the leap and ordered a new M1 MacBook Air. It arrives Friday. Will be the first Retina Mac that I've owned. My aging eyes will be thankful.

Very nice! You’re going to get the shoes blown off your feet when you see the difference!

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Absolutely beautifully designed computer and still looks brand new to this day. The keyboard and its poor performance definitely undermined it however

Thennn… it’s not beautifully designed.

 

[coolfactor]

don't get why they didn't kill the air lined just make MacBooks and MacBook pros. the air moniker is ridiculous in 2021

The "Air" moniker is great. I'm glad they kept it. I was a bit surprised when they had the "MacBook", "MacBook Air" and "MacBook Pro" all in the lineup, with very little visual distinction between the MacBook and the Air.

The Air suggest light and thin. It's a great name. I think it was a mistake for them to use that design for the entry-level MacBook. That was their misstep from a perception standpoint.

 

[nburwell]

I owned the 2017 variant briefly. Beautiful machine, but too slow and strangely buggy. Froze up on me all the time.

Owned the 2017 as well and loved it. Just wasn't ideal for my workflow -- especially working a lot in LR and PS. Certainly beautiful though.

 

[ignatius345]

I had high hopes for this when I bought it, but there were just too many compromises. Battery life wasn't great, it was pretty slow, that single port made it really irritating to use any peripherals, and of course there was that keyboard. The lightness and thinness and that gorgeous screen just weren't enough (for me) to offset all the negatives.

But I really do hope they revisit this form factor, because I think that Apple Silicon could really let them pull it off brilliantly this time. Could be the perfect writing and general light/medium duty MacBook.

 

[Shafa]

I'm personally hoping they'll shave off the edges of the Air enough to eventually make it a MacBook form factor with a 13inch screen. The Air really adds little, particularly when the Pro is thinner than the Air at its thickest...!

 

[MikeSmoke]

Still have a 2016 mid tier M5 and best of all.......It's Rose Gold!!!