Lightweight ARM-Based 12-inch MacBook Massive Leak: Specs, Features, Price, Launch Window

The Cupertino-based tech giant Apple is preparing to launch a 12-inch MacBook with Apple Silicon, according to several reports. A report from China Times revealed the specs of the rumored ARM-powered MacBook. Meanwhile, industry insider Komiya provided several other details about the new device anticipated to launch by the end of 2020.

The first set of details about the 12-inch MacBook with ARM-based Apple Silicon came from China Times and picked up by Macrumors. The report suggested that Apple would start the transition to AARM by reviving the 12-inch MacBook. The device has been dormant since 2017.

The ARM-based 12-inch MacBook would be powered by the A14X processor, according to the report. Dubbed as Tonga within Apple, the said device would weigh less than a kilogram, added the report. The same set of details was recently shared on Twitter by industry insider Komiya.

Aside from the processor, the tipster revealed that the 12-inch MacBook would feature a 12-inch Retina display but would only have a single port. Komiya also said that the upcoming device would feature a battery pack that could last for up to 20 hours. Apart from those, Komiya shared that the rumored device would be available in 8GB and 16 GB RAM configurations.

The 12-inch MacBook with Apple Silicon would reportedly house a 256 GB storage that could be upgraded for up to 1 TB. While China Times did not disclose the pricing of the unreleased MacBook, Komiya mentioned that the base model might retail at $849 and $799 for students availing the device under Apple’s program.

At this year’s WWDC, Apple announced that its Macs would transition from Intel x86 CPUs to its proprietary ARM-based Apple Silicon processors within the next couple of years. Earlier, Bloomberg reported that the Cupertino company is developing at least three Mac processors based on 5nm A14 chip. The first set of MAC processors would feature 12 cores and would include eight high-performance cores and four energy-efficient cores, according to the report.

Apple is believed to be exploring Mac processors with over 12 cores in the future. It is worth mentioning that these details about the 12-inch MacBook are unconfirmed and unofficial. We suggest taking this information with a good measure of skepticism.