Apple Inc Introduces Thinnest, Lightest 12-Inch MacBook, Available In Gold

Apple on Monday unveiled the latest addition to its Mac lineup: the all-new MacBook. At 2 pounds, it’s the lightest notebook ever designed by the company. The announcement came at Apple's Spring Forward event in San Francisco, where the Cupertino, California, tech titan also demonstrated its Apple Watch and announced that Apple TV will exclusively carry a new cable-free streaming service from HBO.

Measuring at 12 inches, the MacBook isn’t the smallest laptop designed by Apple. But it fits right between the 11- and 13- inch Air models, while still being 24 percent thinner than both Airs.

In order to achieve that thinness, Apple has redesigned every component of the MacBook. For example, its keyboard has been changed to what Apple calls a butterfly mechanism, and keys are now 40 percent thinner and 17 percent larger and are individually lit by light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

The trackpad also was redesigned with Force Touch and Taptic technology, first introduced by Apple in the Watch. And Apple ditched almost all connectors on the outside, replacing them with USB-C connectors that can be used to accommodate USB, DisplayPort, HDMI and VGA inputs.

The 12-inch Retina display now comes edge to edge, eschewing the thick bezel commonly seen in current MacBooks, while coming in at 0.88mm, the thinnest display panel on a Mac. Internally, Apple has also redesigned the logic board to pack more components -- such as the 1.3GHz Intel Core M -- in less space. With a smaller logic board, Apple also ditched the fan in its latest design, confirming earlier reports from 9to5Mac.

The MacBook will start at $1,299 and come in silver, space gray or gold, with shipments beginning April 10.