MacBook is a line of budget and compact laptops from Apple, which in terms of power, functionality and innovations are one step below Air ultrabooks and are significantly inferior in their capabilities to professional MacBook Pro machines. The first MacBook was released back in 2006; in 2015, Apple relaunched the line, positioning the new products as inexpensive laptops for study and entertainment, but since 2017, it has actually stopped updating the series, as Pro and Air laptops were in great demand.


The only current models in the series remain the MacBook 12 laptops from 2016 and 2017. To summarize, this option is a stylish and compact machine with an aluminum unibody body, a 4-thread Core M processor and a 12-inch Retina screen (resolution 2304x1440 pixels) with the brand’s usual bright, contrasting and rich picture. On average, such a laptop weighs only 920 grams, which is impressive even by today's standards.

Other important features in the series include a Facetime webcam, a comfortable backlit keyboard, and the company's excellent Force Touch touchpad, which recognizes pressure. It’s a pleasure to work on it, but you don’t want to go back to the mouse later. The connection ports usually provide a headphone output and a universal USB C, which, in addition to connecting peripherals, can transmit a video stream and energy. The built-in battery can hold a charge for 9–10 hours, and a silent passive radiator is used to cool the filling.

With all that said, the 2017 MacBook, even in 2023, could be a pretty interesting alternative to inexpensive laptops for school, especially if marked down or at a good discount. The hardware here is far from the most powerful, but the overall quality of workmanship still gives most budget laptops a run for their money.