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And a Dual Core CPU for $1200, app compatibility aside the CPU in the new MBA might be arguably slower than the A12 bionic. It's literally going to be the same

And a Dual Core CPU for $1200, app compatibility aside the CPU in the new MBA might be arguably slower than the A12 bionic. It's literally going to be the same CPU as in the current 12" Macbooks with a slightly relaxed power envelope which now begs the question why is the Macbook Air even a separate product? at this point it brings nothing to the table other than being slightly larger and slightly cheaper version of the Macbook.

ascagnel_ 8y ago
I think Apple is rethinking its product matrix. This new MBA is the entry-level system. The 12" MB is an upgrade option if you value thin/light/battery life -- the new "executive laptop". The MBP is an upgrade option if you need power or screen space.
- eugeniub 8y ago
  12" MB: No touch ID, slower CPU, crappy last-gen keyboard that breaks all the time.
  - 0culus 8y ago
    Typing this from my 2017 12" MacBook...have not had a single issue with the keyboard. In fact, I have grown to quite like it. Sure it's not my beloved WASD Code with the Cherry Clears, but it's one of the better portable keyboards in terms of typing experience of late, in my opinion.
mtgx 8y ago
It boggles my mind that Apple hasn't switched to AMD Ryzen yet. Lower cost for them, more cores/higher overall performance for their customers. What's not to like? But no, they'd rather try and sell people $20,000 Xeon Mac Pros with half the cores of an AMD Threadripper and like 4x the price.
- 51lver 8y ago
  The future is application processors. No point in switching to another general purpose CPU.
- dogma1138 8y ago
  Raven Ridge does not offer more cores than Intel CPUs, these are 4 Core dies with an iGPU while Intel offers upto 6 and now 8 with an iGPU. While Ryzen has good power efficiency as far as power gating goes and power management it's still behind Intel considerably which we can see in actual usability batter tests it will take probably 2 more generations until AMD has the same power management capabilities as Intel does not only for the CPU but for the entire system since Intel has been developing the centralized power management since the Centrino platform.
saagarjha 8y ago
> It's literally going to be the same CPU as in the current 12" Macbooks with a slightly relaxed power envelope Is it? I was under the impression that these were different chips.
- pinewurst 8y ago
  They are different chips in the sense of being different generations. It's interesting that the Air is a "Y" part which is the same low-power/lower performance family as the Macbook. No updates for the Macbook yet otherwise they probably would be the same. Macbook 12" 2017 = i7-7Y75 (top spec, cheaper ones are lower clocked i3/i5 Y) Macbook Air 2018 = i7-8510Y (617 graphics supposedly faster)
  - dogma1138 8y ago
    You can hardly call them different generations there is zero difference in the core, the Intel Graphics 617 is also looking to be a pure marketing BS it's the same Gen9 GT2 iGPU as the 615 (we have had benchmarks for it on gfx bench for a while now), maybe it will get a 50mhz more graphics boost clock but even that is doubtful since the results are the same as the 615. Like it wouldn't surprise me if the whole i7-8510Y thing is literally Apple going to Intel and saying please increase the SKU of the same CPU you gave Google for the Slate so it would appear as like ours is faster on paper. https://gfxbench.com/compare.jsp?benchmark=gfx50&&did1=64774580&os1=Windows&api1=gl&hwtype1=iGPU&hwname1=Intel%28R%29+UHD+Graphics+615&did2=65620108&os2=Windows&api2=gl&hwtype2=iGPU&hwname2=Intel%28R%29+UHD+Graphics+617 https://gfxbench.com/compare.jsp?benchmark=gfx50&&did1=64774... The results are so close that they are both within the margin of error of each other and within the normal thermal/power constraints you have between two different mobile systems. The challenge with mobile parts is that 25-30% performance delta's are not unheard of between two systems with identical parts on paper but very different thermal and power delivery solutions.
  - SyneRyder 8y ago
    I'm not sure it's an i7-8510Y - note that the MacBook Air specs [1] say it's an i5 chip. (And you can't upgrade it to an i7 either.) I'm not sure we know what chip it actually is yet. [1] https://www.apple.com/au/shop/buy-mac/macbook-air/silver-1.6ghz-dual%E2%80%91core-processor-with-turbo-boost-up-to-3.6ghz-256gb https://www.apple.com/au/shop/buy-mac/macbook-air/silver-1.6...
djrogers 8y ago
It’s not ‘arguably’ slower - it absolutely is. That CPU was already slower than last year’s A11 Fusion CPU, the A12X will blow it away.

ascagnel_ 8y ago

I think Apple is rethinking its product matrix. This new MBA is the entry-level system. The 12" MB is an upgrade option if you value thin/light/battery life -- the new "executive laptop". The MBP is an upgrade option if you need power or screen space.

eugeniub 8y ago
12" MB: No touch ID, slower CPU, crappy last-gen keyboard that breaks all the time.
- 0culus 8y ago
  Typing this from my 2017 12" MacBook...have not had a single issue with the keyboard. In fact, I have grown to quite like it. Sure it's not my beloved WASD Code with the Cherry Clears, but it's one of the better portable keyboards in terms of typing experience of late, in my opinion.

mtgx 8y ago

It boggles my mind that Apple hasn't switched to AMD Ryzen yet. Lower cost for them, more cores/higher overall performance for their customers. What's not to like? But no, they'd rather try and sell people $20,000 Xeon Mac Pros with half the cores of an AMD Threadripper and like 4x the price.

51lver 8y ago
The future is application processors. No point in switching to another general purpose CPU.
dogma1138 8y ago
Raven Ridge does not offer more cores than Intel CPUs, these are 4 Core dies with an iGPU while Intel offers upto 6 and now 8 with an iGPU. While Ryzen has good power efficiency as far as power gating goes and power management it's still behind Intel considerably which we can see in actual usability batter tests it will take probably 2 more generations until AMD has the same power management capabilities as Intel does not only for the CPU but for the entire system since Intel has been developing the centralized power management since the Centrino platform.

saagarjha 8y ago

> It's literally going to be the same CPU as in the current 12" Macbooks with a slightly relaxed power envelope Is it? I was under the impression that these were different chips.

pinewurst 8y ago
They are different chips in the sense of being different generations. It's interesting that the Air is a "Y" part which is the same low-power/lower performance family as the Macbook. No updates for the Macbook yet otherwise they probably would be the same. Macbook 12" 2017 = i7-7Y75 (top spec, cheaper ones are lower clocked i3/i5 Y) Macbook Air 2018 = i7-8510Y (617 graphics supposedly faster)
- dogma1138 8y ago
  You can hardly call them different generations there is zero difference in the core, the Intel Graphics 617 is also looking to be a pure marketing BS it's the same Gen9 GT2 iGPU as the 615 (we have had benchmarks for it on gfx bench for a while now), maybe it will get a 50mhz more graphics boost clock but even that is doubtful since the results are the same as the 615. Like it wouldn't surprise me if the whole i7-8510Y thing is literally Apple going to Intel and saying please increase the SKU of the same CPU you gave Google for the Slate so it would appear as like ours is faster on paper. https://gfxbench.com/compare.jsp?benchmark=gfx50&&did1=64774580&os1=Windows&api1=gl&hwtype1=iGPU&hwname1=Intel%28R%29+UHD+Graphics+615&did2=65620108&os2=Windows&api2=gl&hwtype2=iGPU&hwname2=Intel%28R%29+UHD+Graphics+617 https://gfxbench.com/compare.jsp?benchmark=gfx50&&did1=64774... The results are so close that they are both within the margin of error of each other and within the normal thermal/power constraints you have between two different mobile systems. The challenge with mobile parts is that 25-30% performance delta's are not unheard of between two systems with identical parts on paper but very different thermal and power delivery solutions.
- SyneRyder 8y ago
  I'm not sure it's an i7-8510Y - note that the MacBook Air specs [1] say it's an i5 chip. (And you can't upgrade it to an i7 either.) I'm not sure we know what chip it actually is yet. [1] https://www.apple.com/au/shop/buy-mac/macbook-air/silver-1.6ghz-dual%E2%80%91core-processor-with-turbo-boost-up-to-3.6ghz-256gb https://www.apple.com/au/shop/buy-mac/macbook-air/silver-1.6...

djrogers 8y ago

It’s not ‘arguably’ slower - it absolutely is. That CPU was already slower than last year’s A11 Fusion CPU, the A12X will blow it away.