Is apple preparing to launch a significantly more affordable macbook? According to a prominent supply chain analyst, the tech giant might be planning a new entry-level laptop powered by an iPhone chip. This strategic move could dramatically change the landscape of the budget laptop market. It aims squarely at students, casual users, and those seeking a low-cost entry into the Apple ecosystem.
Leading Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently shared insights suggesting Apple is working on a new 13-inch MacBook. This device would reportedly feature an A18 Pro chip. The A18 Pro currently powers Apple’s latest high-end smartphones, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. This would mark a notable departure for the Mac lineup. Macs have traditionally used chips from the M-series, Apple Silicon processors specifically designed for computers.
The A-Series on Mac: A Shift in Strategy
Apple’s M-series chips, like the M1, M2, M3, and the latest M4, have set high standards for performance and efficiency in laptops and desktops. These chips feature complex architectures optimized for demanding tasks. The rumored use of an A18 Pro chip in a MacBook signals a potential shift. It suggests Apple is exploring using its mobile-focused silicon in a desktop environment for specific use cases. While M-series chips are built for sustained, high-performance workloads, A-series chips are designed for peak performance in power-constrained mobile devices.
Performance benchmarks offer some clues about how an A18 Pro MacBook might stack up. Geekbench 6 scores for the A18 Pro show single-core performance in the 3,400s. This is remarkably close to the M4 chip, which scores between 3,400 and 3,700 depending on the specific Mac model. Multi-core scores for the A18 Pro land between 8,500 and 8,600. Interestingly, this is comparable to the multi-core performance of the original M1 chip generation. While the M4 significantly surpasses the A18 Pro in multi-core tasks, the single-core prowess of the A18 Pro suggests it could handle many everyday laptop tasks efficiently.
Expected Launch Timeline and Design
Kuo’s report pinpoints the potential launch window for this budget MacBook. He suggests we could see the device arrive in late 2025 or early 2026. This timing aligns with Apple’s typical product cycles and allows for the development and integration of the A-series chip into a new laptop design. The move reflects Apple’s broader, diverse silicon strategy. Alongside A-series for mobile and M-series for consumer Macs, Apple is also reportedly developing powerful Baltra chips for AI servers and other custom processors for future wearables, demonstrating their capability across different computing needs.
Beyond the internal silicon, the rumored design includes aesthetic choices not commonly seen in the current MacBook lineup. The analyst suggests the cheaper MacBook could be offered in a range of colors. Potential options include silver, blue, pink, and yellow. This echoes calls from fans who wish Apple would bring the vibrant color palettes from the iMac line to its laptops. Apple has experimented with color on laptops recently, like the subtle sky blue of the M4 MacBook Air. Expanding the color options could make this entry-level model more appealing, particularly to younger demographics or the education market.
Targeting a New Price Point
One of the most compelling aspects of this rumor is the potential price point. While specific pricing wasn’t mentioned, analysts presume this would be Apple’s new entry-level offering. This laptop is expected to undercut the current $999 starting price of the standard MacBook Air. To be truly competitive in the budget space, the price might need to be significantly lower. For context, the M3 MacBook Air has been seen on sale for $799. Apple already offers an M1 MacBook Air with an older design, 256GB storage, and 8GB RAM for $649 at Walmart. The new A-series MacBook would likely need to price somewhere below the current Air to gain traction.
This aggressive pricing strategy could position Apple to directly compete with Chromebooks and mid-range Windows laptops. These segments currently dominate the education market and appeal to users who primarily use their computers for basic tasks. Simple activities like email, web browsing, document editing, and streaming video are well within the capabilities suggested by the A18 Pro’s performance metrics. A more affordable, yet still premium-feeling, Apple device could capture a significant share of this market.
Potential Synergies with macOS
The success of a budget Mac also depends heavily on the operating system experience. This rumored laptop would run the latest version of macOS, potentially leveraging recent advancements announced at events like WWDC. The new macOS 26 “Tahoe,” for instance, introduces a “liquid glass” redesign and performance enhancements. Features like improved Spotlight search, the dedicated Apple Games app (though demanding games might not be the target for an A-series Mac), and Metal 4 graphics API updates could optimize performance even on less powerful hardware. Apple Intelligence features, integrated into macOS, might also benefit users performing basic tasks, potentially requiring less raw processing power for certain AI functions if offloaded or streamlined. The unified user interface across devices, including new features shared with iOS and iPadOS, would also provide a seamless experience for users entering the Apple ecosystem via this budget Mac.
Manufacturing details mentioned include Everwin Precision in Shenzhen, China, reportedly supplying the reference design. This piece of information lends further credibility to the supply chain nature of the rumor. While Kuo also mentioned unrelated rumors about smart glasses in his report, the focus on the A18 Pro MacBook suggests this particular project is further along in development.
Ultimately, an A-series MacBook could represent Apple’s most significant push yet into the affordable computing space. It leverages their expertise in mobile silicon and their established macOS platform to create a device that’s accessible without sacrificing the core Apple experience. The timing around late 2025/early 2026 suggests it’s a project already in motion, poised to disrupt the market dominated by lower-cost Windows and ChromeOS devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What chip will the cheaper MacBook reportedly use?
According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is reportedly planning to use the A18 Pro chip in this new, more affordable MacBook. This chip is currently designed for and used in the latest iPhone 16 Pro models. This would be the first time an Apple Mac laptop uses a chip primarily developed for the iPhone lineup, rather than the M-series processors.
When is this new budget Apple laptop expected to launch?
The rumored cheaper MacBook powered by an A18 Pro chip is expected to launch towards the end of 2025 or the beginning of 2026. This timeline comes from supply chain analysis shared by Ming-Chi Kuo, suggesting the project is actively under development with a target release date about a year or more away.
How would a budget MacBook compete with Chromebooks or Windows PCs?
A more affordable MacBook, potentially priced significantly below the current $999 MacBook Air, would compete directly by offering the macOS experience at a lower cost. This could appeal to price-sensitive markets like education or users needing laptops for basic tasks like email, web browsing, and productivity. Its competitive pricing would challenge the dominance of Chromebooks and mid-range Windows laptops in these segments.
