“Early in 2015, Apple introduced an all-new laptop, branded MacBook,” Ashraf Eassa reports for The Motley Fool. “The first iteration of the device used Intel’s then-new Core m series of processors, based on its then-new Broadwell architecture. Those initial processors were fairly slow (since they consumed substantially less power than Intel’s typical mobile processors), but were serviceable.”
“In 2016, Apple upgraded the MacBook to include updated processors from Intel, based on its much-improved Skylake architecture. This led to a dramatic improvement in performance,” Eassa reports. “Then, in 2017, Apple updated the MacBook once again with further upgraded processors from Intel, known as Kaby Lake… [which] provided the MacBook with a welcome performance bump.”
“In the first half of 2019, I expect Apple to upgrade the MacBook to include new processors from Intel based on the company’s upcoming Ice Lake architecture. This will probably be the single biggest jump in performance that Apple has ever delivered with the MacBook,” Eassa reports. “Ultimately, I think with the next generation of MacBook, Apple will be able to offer the kind of performance that customers have generally come to expect from the higher-end 13-inch MacBook Pro models. This should make them perfectly suitable for the vast majority of consumer notebook use cases; they could even be quite capable for more ‘pro’ workloads like video editing.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Ah, a glimpse of our next, very powerful road Macs!
Isn’t the next generation the Coffee Lake processors and the one AFTER that the Ice Lake ? or do we have MacBooks already with the Coffee Lake processors?
Coffee lake is this years release, and doesn’t really improve much on Kaby Lake except for core count. Ice Lake is supposedly a massive leap for U class CPU’s and Intel graphics, which is akin to the leap from core 2 duo to Ivy Bridge.
Maybe we’ll finally see a return to 12-hour battery life, first introduced 5 years ago in Haswell Macbook Airs.
How about more than one USB-C port?
Needs a better display and GPU at minimum.
After using my iPad Pro along with my iMac I can’t imagine using a laptop going forward. When I use someones laptop it feels antiquated. Constantly reach to manipulate the screen. Anyway, I use my iPad Pro 80% and iMac 20%.
Also, If Apple had a laptop base that I could use my iPad with for a hybrid all in one iOS/macOS depending on what I select… WOW that would be awesome!
I have Both Mac desktops and laptops and an iPad Pro. My biggest complaints with the iPad Pro:
1- Mobile optimized websites that push the baby mobile web on you even when you have requested the desktop site.
2- iOS versions of Mac OS apps that are not full featured or equivalent. Chronicle- an app I use to track spending, bills and such exists on both platforms and is generally excellent on the Mac, but not so great on iOS. Not picking on them- it is just an example.
3- The locked down, limited nature of file types supported by iOS and the way it handles them. For example, if I take an encoded and metadata marked Video file and open it via files, it is opened in Photos and not in Video.
4- Printing from the iPad is still not what it should be.
I have two iPad pros, two MacBooks (one a 13″ Pro; the other, an 11″), in addition to my 27″ iMac.
In terms of portable computing, on a desk, I use a laptop. On a sofa and bed, I use an iPad. On a desk, all I have to do is use a few fingers and sit on my ass. Usually, I don’t even have to move y arms much at all. The iPad requires me to pick it up, use my two arms and fingers to hold it and operate it; thats more work than using just a couple of fingers.
I am finally getting that new 12″ when it comes out.
look through the article thinking maybe some Apple higher up like a SVP had given a hint but no it’s just the author’s fantasy guesswork : “I expect… ”
Apple CAN upgrade it or as past has shown it can also completely ignore new processors etc.
If Jony Ive gets a new pre-occupied for another Coffee Table book (like “Ive’s Greatest Hits In Depth” or something) or toilet seats for the new Campus Cafeteria like he spent one and half years on Campus door handles (according to Reuters), or a new Bigger Christmas tree then we can forget it.
why so cynical?
1) Apple is still selling a 2013 Mac Pro as a flagship desktop on its website. Imagine Ford selling a 2013 car as new. This is 2018…
2) the Macbook Air which is supposed to be the ‘lightest’ Mac has MORE PORTS than the Macbook. Jobs always believed confusing product lines stumps the consumer into not buying.
3) the 32 GB Macbook Pro is still missing years after high end PC laptops had them. A couple years back apologist/flamers said “it’s Intel’s fault, wait for the chips , wait for the subsystem.. “. So.. ?
4) the Mac Mini not updated for years in spite of generations new processors. Note the Mini was a bestseller until they neutered the 4 core and sealed the box from RAM upgrades etc.
I’m happy with the the iMac Pro launch but still Apple’s record of updating just because new processors are available is spotty at best.
What there’s more! The author also predicts tensions in the Middle East, Donald Trump will say something outrageous, we will have a busy hurricane season, and the body will be found near water!
Apple has so confused their Mac lineup and does such a poor job marketing them, not to mention listening to customer requests, it is amazing that Mac sales haven’t crashed since Cook turned his back on the Mac platform.
If Apple wanted to supercharge its Mac sales, it would get some fundamental things straight right now:
– all laptops need a magsafe connection dedicated to just charging. It is the most efficient and cost effective means of charging. It also saves laptops from drop damage and cord destruction
– if Apple introduces a new connector like USB-C or connection protocol like Thunderbolt 3, then it needs to roll that tech into all products in 2 years or less with a stepped approach: year 1 adds new tech and either retains the old port or includes an adapter to enable old accessories to plug in. Year 2, drop the legacy port and add an additional new port.
– all Macs need at least two data ports compatible with USB3 and Thunderbolt3
– all Pro models need in addition to the above, a dedicated ethernet port, an HDMI or DisplayPort video output, an included adapter or legacy USB type A port, and a dedicated audio port, preferably the dual digital/analog Toslink/minijack used on prior MBPs. data, audio, video, and power connections must be separately connectable and separable and adaptable to the immediately prior Apple connector tech
– all laptops need at least 8 hours of battery life under constant significant cpu usage
– with the exception of one fashion executive laptop and one plastic entry level student laptop, all Macs deserve to have replacable standard non-soldered RAM, batteries, and drives
– all Pro models should allow user replacement of all of the above plus GPU and PCI card slots and an SD card slot at least as an option
– all displays need to be a minimum of 4k resolution
– all laptops need SSD drives a minimum of 512 GB in size
– all Pro Macs, including laptops, need at least two internal drive bays with user options starting with a single SSD of at least 1 TB or both drives filled with a minimum of 512 GB each and going up from there
– displays need to be offered in 3 sizes, with the largest at least 32 inch
– CPU, GPU, and RAM levels must ALWAYS be offered up to or greater than the speed and capacity that HP or Dell offer. It is not acceptable to pay a premium for Jony’s hobbled designs while PC owners can spec out computers that run circles around the latest Macs
– no Mac can be allowed to be shipped with 5400 rpm hard drives
– a minimum of 4 major desktop models need to be offered: mini, Pro, iMac, and a Mac medium sized tower.
– Apple needs to reenter the education and server markets
– Apple needs to buy Anker and have them design all future cables. Ditch all the clunky white fragile cords
– Pro models should start to use more advanced materials than aluminum. Carbon fiber or fiber reinforced plastics are mature technology and Apple used to make titanium laptops for goodness sakes. Why do all Apple laptops have to be aluminum?
A decent keyboard would be nice. Many of the keys on my Macbook don’t work all the time – the space bar is the worst.