Apple’s Bringing the Beloved 12″ MacBook Back from the Dead with New A14X Silicon

Earlier this year at WWDC, Apple announced it was making a radical change to its Mac lineup, replacing Intel processors with its own ARM-based silicon.

Fast forward to the fall, and the Cupertino company is preparing to launch its first MacBook with its homegrown processors.

No specific release date was provided, but the new MacBook is expected to go on sale by the end of the year.

According to Apple’s supply chain, Apple is expected to launch a Macbook with a 12-inch Retina Display at the end of this year, using its self-developed and designed A14X processor, with the development code of Tonga, supporting a USB Type-C interface and weighing less than 1 kilogram, because of the low-power advantage of the Arm-based processor. The Macbook battery lasts 15 to 20 hours. The A14X processor will also be used in the new generation iPad Pro tablet.

China Times

According to the report in The China Times, Apple’s first ARM-based MacBook will be powered by the company’s new A14X processor. Codenamed Tonga and manufactured by TSMC, the processor also may land in future iPad Pro models.

This move brings Apple’s laptop platform closer and closer to its tablets and phones.

Apple’s A14X processor is expected to ship with 12 cores, four of which are energy efficient and the eight for high-performance processing. A Bloomberg report claims Apple is already working on the next-generation A15 processor, which will push the number of available cores to more than 12.

Because of the power-sipping ability of the ARM architecture, Apple’s rumored MacBook may deliver up to 20 hours of usage on a single charge.

It also may ship with a USB-C interface for charging and peripherals. In keeping with Apple’s obsession with weight, the new MacBook may weigh less than 1 kilogram, rivaling the MacBook Air and original MacBook as one of the lightest MacBooks to date.

Design-wise, Apple’s first ARM-base MacBook may resemble its original MacBook, which debuted in 2015. It may have a similar form factor with a 12-inch retina display and a slim chassis for portability and looks.

Apple may include a few notable upgrades, like 5G connectivity, to keep the laptop modern. The MacBook may be Apple’s first ARM-based computer, but it won’t be the last. Rumors also hint that the company is working next on an ARM-powered iMac that’ll debut in late 2021.

[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]