MacBook Early 2015

While sharing its name with earlier MacBook models, the MacBook "Core M" 1.1 12-Inch (Early 2015) and its slightly higher-end counterpart, the MacBook "Core M" 1.2 12-Inch (Early 2015), represent a significant departure from their predecessors.

Engineered for ultimate portability, the "Early 2015" MacBook models are even lighter and thinner than the most compact MacBook Air models. With only a single USB-C port for connectivity and a headphone jack, the hardware's design is more akin to an iPad with an attached keyboard than to previous Apple notebooks. However, these MacBooks run OS X, not the iPad's iOS.

The MacBook "Core M" 1.1 12-Inch (Early 2015) is powered by a 14-nm 1.1 GHz Intel "Core M" processor (M-5Y31) with two independent "cores" on a single chip, a 4 MB level 3 cache, and an integrated Intel HD Graphics 5300 processor that shares system memory. It comes with 8 GB of non-upgradable onboard 1600 MHz LPDDR3 SDRAM and 256 GB of non-upgradable onboard PCIe-based flash storage.

This is all enclosed in an exceptionally slim (0.14-0.52 inch), 2.03-pound aluminum case, offered in traditional silver, gold, and a darker "Space Gray." It also includes a 480p FaceTime webcam, a backlit full-size keyboard with a thin "butterfly mechanism," an innovative haptic-capable "Force Touch" trackpad, and a stunning 12" TFT LED-backlit active-matrix "Retina" display (2304x1440 resolution at 226 ppi). Apple highlights that the notebook also utilizes a new "tiered" battery design to maximize internal space, providing 9-10 hours of runtime depending on use.

The 12-inch MacBook, introduced in 2015, sent shockwaves around the world with its futuristic design and extreme thinness and lightness. It was packed with innovative technologies, including a Core M processor that enabled a fanless design, a pressure-sensitive Force Touch trackpad, and an ultra-thin butterfly keyboard. Many reviews lauded its beautiful Retina display and phenomenal portability. On the other hand, its performance was limited to basic tasks, and the shallow key travel of the first-generation butterfly keyboard received mixed feedback. Furthermore, the bold decision to include only a single USB-C port, while seen as forward-thinking, was also criticized by many for its practical inconvenience. This model was a highly ambitious product that presented a vision for the future of notebooks.