Introducing the MacBook 12in M7

The Apple MacBook 12in M7 was released in 2016. It is an excellent laptop in terms of performance and appearance, but the thing it provided new was its portability. The compact size of this MacBook made it a unique product, suitable for all types of uses.

Image is taken from Cnet

Although it was released quite a while ago, it can still be a great device for content marketers. In this review, we are going to look at its specifications in detail. We will also look at why it is so suitable for content marketers in particular.

Specifications of MacBook 12in M7

Here are the specifications of the Apple MacBook 12in M7:

Display Type	Retina
Display Size	12 inches (diagonal)
Processor	Intel M7
Storage	256 GB SSD or 512 GB SSD
Display Resolution	2K (2304 x 1440)
RAM size	8 GB

Now we will look at the various features and aspects of this laptop in detail.

In-Depth Review of MacBook 12-inch M7 Laptop

1. Processor

The MacBook 12in M7 comes with an Intel M7 processor. This processor is suitable for a wide range of tasks, such as running word processing software, graphics designing software, and more. As a content marketer, you can do all types of tasks on it without worrying about any lag in the performance.

The Intel M7 processor has a clock speed of 1.3 GHZ. For a small and compact device, this clock speed is quite awesome. You can surf the Internet, do your research, and create content easily.

2. RAM

When it comes to laptops, the RAM (Random Access Memory) is a very important specification to consider. The RAM is responsible for providing short-term storage to your device so that it can quickly load files and programs. The bigger the RAM is, the quicker the device is able to perform.

The MacBook 12in M7 comes with 8 GB of RAM. This is quite ample for tasks like using the internet, creating content, making visuals, etc. There is also a 4 MB cache in this laptop's memory.

3. Storage

Moving on, the storage in this MacBook is also quite remarkable. You can choose between the 256 GB or 512 GB options when making your purchase.

This amount of storage is normally enough for people who don’t want to download large files or software. As a content marketer, most of your work will revolve around creating content—which normally doesn’t take up a lot of space.

The good thing about the storage of this device is that it is SSD and not HDD. SSD storage is very fast compared to HDD.

4. Display

One of the most excellent features of this device is its display. It comes with a 12-inch display, which is large enough to provide a good user experience but not too big. The resolution is 1440p, which means you will be able to see the visuals on the screen quite clearly.

The display is Retina; which is a specific type of high-quality display used by Apple in their top-range products.

5. Battery

The MacBook 12in M7 comes with an excellent battery that provides 10 hours of battery life when used for normal tasks. If you don’t use the device and keep it on standby, the battery can last up to 30 hours.

As a content marketer, this battery can be very helpful as you can move around without having to worry about keeping the device plugged in.

6. Keyboard

As a content marketer, typing and writing content is something that you will have to do quite frequently. This is why a good keyboard is important for every content marketer.

In the MacBook 12in M7, you get a full-size backlit keyboard. The full-sized keyboard helps you easily type out content without worrying about attaching an external one. Plus, with the backlighting, you can work even in low-light conditions.

7. Operating System

This MacBook runs on the 12^th version of macOS, i.e., Monterey. Compared to the older versions, macOS Monterey has a lot of useful features that can benefit you as a content marketer. Data sharing, focus mode, upgraded Safari features, etc., are all included in this OS.

Can I Upgrade the RAM of My MacBook 12in?

No, the RAM of the 12-inch MacBook cannot be upgraded. It has an 8 GB RAM, which is enough for most types of use. You cannot increase it on your own.

What are the Connectivity Options for the MacBook 12in M7?

The connectivity options is one of the areas in which the MacBook 12in does not perform as well. While other similar devices provide various different ports like HDMI, VGA, USA-A, etc., this MacBook doesn't have as many options.

You only get one USB-C port with the MacBook 12in M7. You can, however, use this port effectively by attaching a hub to it. The hub can be used to connect USB-A devices to the MacBook easily.

Why is it Great for Content Marketers?

The MacBook 12in M7 is great for content marketers because of its excellent performance, user-friendliness, and compactness. (If you want to learn more about what content marketing involves, check out our digital marketing blog.)

This laptop has excellent performance

This laptop comes with an upgraded M7 chip, which makes it quite fast. Especially when compared to the older models, this particular MacBook is significantly better in performance.

It provides various user-friendly features

Moving on, the user-friendliness of this device is also what makes it great for content marketers. If you want to write some content, create visuals, or do some research, you can do it all easily using the built-in keyboard and crisp display.

It is compact and small-sized

The compactness of this device makes it very easy to carry around. Content marketers are creative people who shouldn't be confined to their desks. They have to move around, whether it means going from the home to the office, from one agency to the other, etc., in search of authentic research and quality content. For such people, a compact and small device can be very helpful. This is what makes the MacBook 12in so awesome.

Is the MacBook 12in M7 Still Produced Nowadays?

No, the 12-inch MacBook 2016 is not produced nowadays. However, you can find and purchase one in used condition and enjoy it all the same.

What is MacBook 12in M7 price?

When this device was first released, it cost $1,200. However, nowadays, you can buy a used 12in MacBook for around $300 - $500.

Pros and Cons of MacBook 12in M7

To give you an overview of the various features and hardware capabilities of this laptop, we've mentioned its main pros and cons in this table below:

Pros	Cons
Provides decent performance	Bulky as compared to newer designs
Compact and easy to carry around	Not ideal for heavy, GPU-intensive tasks
Backlighting in keyboard	Available only in used and second-hand form
Diverse assortment of slots and ports	RAM cannot be expanded
Excellent battery timing	OS can be a little outdated for 2024

How Does the MacBook 12in Compare to the Newer Versions?

Apple MacBooks have come a long way since the MacBook 12in M7 was released back in 2016. Apple shifted from using Intel chips to Apple Silicone chips. It released M1, M2, and M3 MacBook Pro models in the following years. (You can check out our review on the M2 MacBook Pro by clicking on the link.) Recently, there has been speculation about an M4 version coming out as well. We have also written an article on the M4 MacBook Pro that you should definitely check out.

While the 12in M7 MacBook is still a great choice to buy, we want to give you an overview of how it compares with the newer versions. This will help you realize the differences and improvements in the specs/features. You can think about buying a newer model if you feel as if they are more suited to your needs.

Performance

• Processor: The 12-inch MacBook with Intel Core M7 (2017) is significantly outpaced by the Apple Silicon M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max, and M2 chips in the newer MacBook Air and Pro models. The M1 and subsequent chips offer substantial improvements in CPU, GPU, and machine learning performance.
• Efficiency: The M1 and M2 chips are much more power-efficient, providing better performance-per-watt and longer battery life compared to the Intel Core M7.

Battery Life

• 12-inch MacBook (M7): Around 10 hours of web browsing or video playback.
• M1/M2 MacBook Air and Pro: Up to 15-20 hours of web browsing or video playback, thanks to the efficiency of the Apple Silicon chips.

Display

• 12-inch MacBook: Retina display with a resolution of 2304 x 1440.
• Newer MacBooks: The M1 and M2 MacBook Air and Pro models have superior Retina displays with True Tone, P3 wide color gamut, and higher brightness. The MacBook Pro models also offer the Liquid Retina XDR display, providing even better contrast and HDR capabilities.

Design and Build

• 12-inch MacBook: Extremely portable with a slim, lightweight design, but limited in terms of ports.
• Newer MacBooks: Slightly heavier but still very portable. They offer multiple ports (including Thunderbolt/USB 4, HDMI on some models) and improved keyboard and trackpad designs.

Storage and Memory

• 12-inch MacBook: Limited to 8GB of RAM and up to 512GB SSD.
• Newer MacBooks: Offer up to 64GB of unified memory (on higher-end models) and up to 8TB of SSD storage, providing more flexibility and future-proofing.

Features

• 12-inch MacBook: Lacks advanced features like the Touch Bar, advanced cooling systems, and enhanced audio setups.
• Newer MacBooks: Include features like the Magic Keyboard, Touch Bar (on some Pro models), advanced cooling for sustained performance, improved speaker systems, and better camera quality.

Software Support

• 12-inch MacBook: As it uses Intel processors, it may face reduced software optimization over time compared to Apple Silicon Macs.
• Newer MacBooks: Benefit from ongoing optimization for Apple Silicon, ensuring better performance and future-proofing for macOS updates and applications.

Overall Value

• 12-inch MacBook: Offers excellent portability but is outdated in terms of performance, connectivity, and features.
• Newer MacBooks: Provide a much better value proposition with superior performance, longer battery life, more features, and improved build quality.

Where Can I Buy the Apple MacBook 12in?

There are various online stores where you can buy a used 12-in MacBook, such as:

• Amazon
• Ebay
• Walmart

Is it Better to Buy the MacBook 12in or a Windows Laptop?

The 12-inch MacBook has a lot of useful features and it comes with decent performance, no doubt. It is also affordable to purchase nowadays, considering that it was released 7 to 8 years ago.

If you are fine using an older device with a moderate performance, you should buy the MacBook. However, if you need something more powerful and with more modern features, you can think about buying a Windows laptop, such as the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus. We've written a review on it on our site that we recommend you to read.

The reason that we recommend buying a Windows laptop instead of a newer MacBook is because Windows laptops are usually more affordable. However, they provide excellent features even in their modest price tags.

Conclusion

That brings our post to an end.

The 12-inch MacBook is a great device thanks to its performance, storage, memory, and chassis. It can be easily carried around and used by content marketers at their ease.

In the post above, we have looked at the details of this device in depth. We hope you were able to learn all that you wanted. If you want to buy this device, we personally would recommend it.

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