MacBook facts for kids
A MacBook is a type of Mac laptop computer. It is made by Apple and uses Apple's macOS operating system. MacBooks have been around since 2006.
The MacBook brand took the place of older Apple laptops called PowerBook and iBook. This happened when Apple switched to using Intel processors in their computers. Today, the main MacBook computers are the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro. There were also two other lines simply called "MacBook" that were sold from 2006 to 2012 and from 2015 to 2019.
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What is a MacBook?
The first MacBook computers looked a lot like the iBook and PowerBook laptops that came before them. Later, Apple started making MacBooks with a single piece of aluminum for the body. This design was first seen with the MacBook Air.
The keyboards on MacBooks are usually black keys on a metallic aluminum body. This makes them look very consistent across the different models.
The lids of MacBook laptops stay closed with a magnet. There is no mechanical latch to open them. In older MacBooks, you could easily get to the memory, hard drives, and batteries. But in newer, more compact models, these parts are often glued or soldered in place. All current MacBooks have keyboards that light up, which is helpful in the dark.
Older MacBook Models
The First MacBook (2006–2012)
When Apple started using Intel processors, they released a 13-inch laptop called "MacBook." This laptop took over from the PowerPC-based iBook series. For a long time, it was the most affordable Mac computer. It was cheaper than the powerful MacBook Pro and the super-thin MacBook Air.
This MacBook was made for everyday users and students. Apple sold these MacBooks to regular customers until July 2011. After that, the MacBook Air became the cheaper option. Apple continued to sell the original MacBook to schools until February 2012.
This MacBook was the best-selling Mac computer in Apple's history. For five months in 2008, it was even the best-selling laptop of any brand in US stores.
There were three main designs for this MacBook. The first one had a body made of polycarbonate (a type of plastic) and fiberglass. It looked like the iBook G4. The second design, from October 2008, had a single aluminium body, similar to the MacBook Pro. However, it did not have a FireWire port. The third design, from late 2009, went back to a white polycarbonate body, but still kept the strong unibody style.
The 12-inch MacBook (2015–2019)
In 2015, Apple introduced a new 12-inch MacBook. People sometimes called it the "Retina MacBook" because it had a very sharp screen. This laptop was placed between the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro in Apple's lineup.
It was much smaller than any other MacBook at the time. It also had a Retina display, which means the screen pixels are so small you can't see them. It was designed to be fanless, so it made no noise. It also had a special "Butterfly keyboard" with keys that didn't move very much when you pressed them.
This 12-inch MacBook was very simple. It only had one USB-C port for both charging and connecting other devices. It also had a headphone jack. It was released in 2015, updated in 2017, and then stopped being sold in July 2019. It was the thinnest MacBook ever made.
The MacBook Family Today
MacBook Air
The MacBook Air is Apple's most affordable laptop. It used to be a premium, super-thin laptop. But now, with lower prices and the older MacBook being discontinued, it's the entry-level Mac laptop.
The MacBook Air models from 2010 to 2017 had a 13-inch screen. They were Apple's thinnest laptops until the 12-inch MacBook came out in 2015. These models had two regular USB ports and a Thunderbolt 2 port. The 13-inch model also had an SDXC card slot for camera memory cards. These older MacBook Airs did not have a Retina display. An 11-inch MacBook Air was also available from 2010 to 2016. In 2017, the 13-inch MacBook Air got a small update with a faster processor.
On October 30, 2018, the MacBook Air got a big redesign. It lost the old USB ports and the MagSafe charging port. Instead, it gained two USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports and a headphone jack. It also got a Retina display and a Touch ID sensor, which lets you unlock your computer with your fingerprint. The price was also adjusted.
On November 10, 2020, Apple announced that the MacBook Air would use their new Apple M1 chip. This M1 Air does not have a fan, so it runs silently. It was said to be faster than most Intel laptops at the time.
On June 6, 2022, Apple announced a new MacBook Air with the Apple M2 chip. This model looks more like the newer MacBook Pro models. It has a flat design, full-sized function keys, and a Liquid Retina display with rounded corners and a notch for the 1080p webcam. It still has a fanless design. It includes two Thunderbolt 3/USB 4 ports and brought back MagSafe charging.
On June 5, 2023, Apple introduced a larger 15-inch version of the M2 MacBook Air.
On March 4, 2024, Apple updated both the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models with the even newer Apple M3 chip.
MacBook Pro
The MacBook Pro is Apple's more powerful laptop. It is available in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes. The 13-inch MacBook Pro was updated in October 2018. It featured a touch-sensitive screen strip called the Touch Bar instead of the regular function keys. It also had a Touch ID sensor built into the power button and four USB-C ports that also worked as Thunderbolt 3 ports.
The May 2020 update brought back a more traditional "Magic Keyboard" with a scissor mechanism. It also included a physical Escape button.
On November 13, 2019, Apple released the 16-inch MacBook Pro. This replaced the 15-inch model. It also brought back the scissor-mechanism keyboard and a physical Escape key. It had better graphics cards and an improved cooling system. This 16-inch model could have up to 64GB of RAM and up to 8 TB of storage. It also had a very large battery.
On November 10, 2020, Apple announced a new 13-inch MacBook Pro with the Apple M1 chip. This model has a fan, which helps the M1 chip run at its full speed for longer. Unlike the Intel Pro models, the M1 version only came with a 13-inch screen and two Thunderbolt ports.
On October 18, 2021, Apple announced new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. These used Apple's powerful M1 Pro and M1 Max chips. These new models brought back many popular features. They reintroduced physical function keys instead of the Touch Bar. They also added an HDMI 2.0 port, an SDXC reader, and MagSafe charging. Other new features included a Liquid Retina XDR display with thinner borders, a 1080p webcam, and Wi-Fi 6.
On June 6, 2022, Apple announced an updated 13-inch MacBook Pro with the Apple M2 chip. It kept the same design as the previous M1 MacBook Pro.
On January 17, 2023, Apple announced updated 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips. These models also got better Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, HDMI 2.1, and longer battery life.
On October 30, 2023, Apple announced updated 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with the M3 series of chips.
On October 30, 2024, Apple announced updated 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with the M4 series of chips.
Timeline
| Timeline of portable Macintoshes |
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See also
