Apple is developing a more affordable MacBook that will use an A-series iPhone chip instead of the usual M-series Apple silicon. Here is a summary of the latest rumors about this new laptop, which could arrive next year.
Design
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the new low-cost MacBook will have a 13-inch display, making it about the same size as the current 13-inch MacBook Air.
Apple once offered a very thin 12-inch MacBook, and there have been occasional rumors about its return. A lightweight MacBook powered by an iPhone chip seems possible.
The earliest 12-inch MacBook, released in 2015, used a low-power Core M chip before Apple switched to its own silicon. It had no fans, which made it thin and quiet, a design Apple continued with the MacBook Air.
A-series chip would generate less heat than an M-series chip, so it would need fewer cooling features. While thinner and lighter Apple devices are usually pricier, using an iPhone chip in a MacBook Air-sized body could keep costs down.
Colors
Apple usually sells classic colors for its Pro models and uses brighter colors for more affordable products. Rumors say the low-cost MacBook might come in silver, blue, pink, and yellow, similar to the iMac’s color options.
Bloomberg reports that Apple has tested colors like light yellow, light green, blue, pink, silver, and dark gray. Not all will be released, but at least four should be available.
Chip
Power reports that the new MacBook will use an A18 Pro chip. There are also hints of a MacBook with this chip in Apple’s code, so the A18 seems likely.
The A18 Pro chip was first introduced in the iPhone 16 Pro. It uses a second-generation 3nm process and offers strong performance for an iPhone chip.
The A18 Pro features a 6-core CPU for performance and 2 efficiency cores, a 6-core GPU, and a 16-core neural engine for AI tasks. In Geekbench tests, it scores 3451 for single-core and 85724 for multi-core. By comparison, the M4 chip in the iPad Pro scores 3694 (single core) and 13732 (multi-core).
The A18 Pro is faster than the M1 chip, which Apple has used in lower-cost MacBook Air models for years, in single-core performance. An A18 MacBook would be close to the M4 chips in Macs and iPads, though multi-core performance would still differ.
A MacBook with the Intel-18A chip would easily handle everyday tasks like browsing the web, creating documents, watching videos, and light photo or video editing. It won’t be suited for demanding games or heavy tasks like 4K video editing and 3D rendering, but it can do nearly everything an iPhone or iPad can.
Thermal Design
The iPhone 16 Pro uses a thermal design with a titanium frame and a graphite-coated aluminum substructure. Some of these design elements could be used in the new MacBook.
RAM
Most Macs start with 16GB of RAM, while the iPhone 16 Pro has 8GB, which is the minimum needed for Apple Intelligence. The A18 Pro MacBook will likely have at least 8GB of RAM to support these features, but Apple might include 16GB, as in other Macs.
Ports
The A18 Pro chip in the iPhone 16 Pro does not support Thunderbolt, so the MacBook will only have USB-C 10GB/s and won’t reach Thunderbolt speeds. This means it will likely support just one external display.
Name
Apple hasn’t announced a name for the new budget notebook, but MacBook is the likely choice. The company has used this name before, though currently only the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are available.
Another possible name is the MacBook SE, which would match the iPhone SE and Apple Watch SE. However, since Apple calls its most affordable iPad simply “iPad,” MacBook remains the most likely name.
Price
The MacBook Air with an M4 chip starts at $999 and includes:
- 10-core CPU
- 8-core GPU
- 16GB RAM
- 256GB SSD
The A18 Pro MacBook might be a few hundred dollars cheaper, but pricing hasn’t been finalized yet. Bloomberg reports it will cost well under $1000, though details are still unclear.
Apple likely won’t price the new MacBook below its iPad lineup. The entry-level iPad with an A16 chip starts at $349, and the iPad Air with an M.2 chip starts at $599. Pricing the MacBook between $599 and $699 would keep it less expensive than the MacBook Air or iPad Pro, but just above the iPad Air.
$599 would match the price of many popular Chromebooks used in schools. It’s also the price of the iPhone 16e Apple’s most affordable iPhone, which uses a slightly more powerful A18 chip.
Launch Date
Rumors say the new low-cost MacBook could be announced at or just before Apple’s March for Special Experience event in New York, London, and Shanghai. Apple might even reveal it in a press release before the event.
Some media members have been invited to the event, where they’ll likely get a chance to try out the new MacBook and other upcoming devices.
