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Early 2016 12-inch Retina MacBook references spotted in OS X apps

Updated Dec 19th, 2018 9:15PM EST
Early 2016 Retina MacBook
Image: Apple Inc.

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After a report said earlier this week that Apple is readying ultra-thin 13-inch and 15-inch MacBooks for the second quarter, possibly similar in design to the 12-inch Retina MacBook, code discovered inside OS X suggests there’s at least one new MacBook in the works, supposed to be launching soon.

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Listed as “12-inch MacBook (Early 2016)” in Apple’s System Image Utility feature (see the following image), the device is yet to be unveiled. The same MacBook model is also spotted in the OS X Server application under the NetInstall section, 9to5Mac reports. Other new MacBook models have not been listed at this time.

The fact that Apple calls it an “Early” model might suggest the device will launch in the first four months of the year, MacRumors says.

Additional investigation of OS X 10.11.4 by Pike’s Universum unearthed details about the low-power Intel Skylake processor Apple will probably use in the new 12-inch MacBooks. Here are the purported Intel Core M chips supposed to go inside the new laptops:

  • Intel® Core™ m3-6Y30 Processor (4M Cache, up to 2.20 GHz)
  • Intel® Core™ m5-6Y54 Processor (4M Cache, up to 2.70 GHz)
  • Intel® Core™ m7-6Y75 Processor (4M Cache, up to 3.10 GHz)

Apple launched the first 12-inch Retina MacBook laptops last year, during a special event, but it might quietly upgrade the laptop this year, given that it made no mention of upcoming MacBook models at this week’s iPhone event.

Chris Smith Senior Writer

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2008. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming almost every new movie and TV show release as soon as it's available.