At WWDC 2017, Apple introduced a new iteration of its 12-inch MacBook. Now, the company has offered up refurbished versions of this laptop via its official online store for the first time.
The basic version of the MacBook, with a 1.2GHz Intel Core m3 processor, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of flash storage, and an Intel HD Graphics 615 GPU typically costs $1,299. The refurbished version is priced at $1,099, according to Mac Rumors.
Likewise, a more advanced model with a 1.3GHz Intel Core i5 processor and double the amount of flash storage would normally set you back $1,599, but getting a refurbished model drops the price to $1,359.
Apple offers a variety of different hardware configurations of its 12-inch MacBook, and as such there are several refurbished options available, too. Prices range from $1,099 up to $1,659, depending on the components that are selected. Color options include gold, rose gold, and space gray.
There are compelling savings to be had, as long as you don’t have any qualms about not being the very first owner of your new laptop. That being said, buying refurbished systems from Apple is a far cry from picking up your MacBook on Craigslist.
The company states that every system that enters its refurbishment program undergoes a “rigorous” process of testing and certification. For all intents are purposes, the MacBook you receive is the same as one that you would buy brand new — it’s even given its own serial number, and it is protected by the same one-year warranty as any other system.
You can also expect to receive a working power cord (which might not be the case if you were buying second-hand from an individual). Apple will even package it up nicely in a fresh white box.
The 12-inch model didn’t fare too badly in Digital Trends’ analysis of the Apple’s entire range of MacBooks, but there were a couple of sticking points. The fact that it’s the smallest, lightest laptop the company has ever produced is great if you need a super-portable system, but it does restrict its battery life to a less-than-stellar 10 hours. What is more, the standard processor is a little underpowered, and its single USB Type-C port can be restrictive.
Still, if you are looking to reap the savings of a refurbished 12-inch MacBook, you can do so here.
The absolutely absurd idea of putting a touchscreen display on a mouse isn't exactly new. Turtle Beach already did it with its Command Series MC7, which features a 2.25-inch control screen. But apparently, even that wasn't ridiculous enough for Arctic Fox Technologies. Its new Super Mouse looks like someone took the chunky old Atari ST mouse, slapped a touchscreen and scroll wheel on it, and called it an upgrade.
The result is a rather unusual-looking mouse that is now on Kickstarter, starting at $199. And as ridiculous as it looks, some of its features are genuinely intriguing.
Apple is less than a day away from launching its highly anticipated OLED MacBook Pro with a touch-sensitive screen. But it appears that the upgrade is going to cost a pretty penny. According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple is reportedly eyeing a starting price of $2,899 for the 14-inch MacBook Pro, while the 16-inch version could start at $3,399 in the US.
"At $2,899, the 14-inch model would mark the highest starting price for a new MacBook Pro model, surpassing the $2,799 Apple charged for a 17-inch version introduced in 2006," says the report. The report claims that Apple is targeting a minimum price hike of $400 for its upcoming redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.
I've spent a good amount of time digging into the spec sheet of the new M6 MacBook Pro (14-inch), and for all intents and purposes, this is a classic Apple "chip and connectivity" refresh. It's not a full redesign. The chassis, Liquid Retina XDR panel, speakers, ports, and battery, all of them carry over unchanged.
However, the M6 brings more cores, stronger on-device AI, higher memory bandwidth on the larger configs, and modern wireless. Here’s the practical rundown of what actually improved, and whether those gains are worth your money.