New MacBook 2015 Specs, Features, Price Review: Aesthetics Focus for Apple

Virginia D'Cruz Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Apple's new MacBook is displayed during Apple's 'Spring Forward' event in San Francisco, California, on March 9, 2015. | REUTERS/Robert Galbraith

Apple announced the launch of an all-new MacBook with a 12-inch display during its "Spring Forward" event in San Francisco, California, on Monday. The announcement shook up cyberspace with the word "MacBook" becoming one of the top 10 trending topics on Twitter.

As for the new MacBook, Apple CEO Tim Cook pointed out that the new device is thinner than MacBook Air, measuring a mere 13.1 millimeters. In terms of weight, the MacBook tips the scales at 2.03 pounds. It is made from aluminum just like a number of other Apple products.

The company appeared to have spent a lot of time on refining the design of the MacBook. During the event a lot of focus was placed on its aesthetics.

The device has only one USB-C port and it is used for charging. It also supports a 3.1 Gen 1 USB, and works as a DisplayPort, VGA output and HDMI video output. Dubbed as the future trend in devices by Apple, this sole USB port allows the MacBook to retain its thin profile.

Apple also paid special attention to the display and colors of the MacBook. It has a resolution of 2304 x1440 pixels and a density of 226 pixels per inch, and comes in gold, space grey and silver. The butterfly keyboard design in the MacBook is an all-new take on the traditional scissor like design on previous keyboards and is also thinner.

Coming to the MacBook's specs, it has 8GB RAM, and available with either 256GB or 512GB of onboard storage. It has a dual-core 1.1GHz or 1.2GHz Intel Core M processor that can be upgraded to a dual-core 1.3GHz Intel Core M version.

The batteries on the device are also unique and have been split into smaller portions distributed throughout the MacBook in a terraced format. They provide the device with either nine hours wireless web usage or 10 hours iTunes playback. Also included is a smaller logic board that comes without a fan, a haptic engine and force touch sensors which are placed below the trackpad.

The device is going to be pretty expensive, with the 256GB version costing $1,299 and the 512GB version costing $1,599.