Apple appears to be working on a new version of the MacBook, which could be marketed as the cheapest Mac with a processor that powers the iPhone. Yes, you heard that right—a prominent analyst claims that Apple plans to launch a cheaper version of the MacBook, potentially a reincarnated version of the 12-inch MacBook, but it will house an A18 Pro chip.
Apple’s Upcoming MacBook Could Be Its Most Affordable Laptop Yet, Powered By The iPhone’s A18 Pro Chip
Apple’s entry-level MacBook Air starts at $999, which is significantly cheaper than the Pro models, but it is still a pricey option for many. The company is aware of the threats from the competition, where some entry-level laptops are available with a price tag of roughly $600. Ming-Chi Kuo claims that Apple’s rendition of a cheaper laptop will be powered by an A-series processor. Even though the A18 Pro chip is pretty capable in what it can do on the iPhone, it remains to be seen if it would hold the same performance levels on a Mac.
Why Apple Wants a Cheaper MacBook in Its Lineup
Apple launched the 12-inch MacBook in 2015, which took the tech industry by storm as it was the lightest and thinnest laptop the company had ever produced. It was the first MacBook without a fan, but the lack of it really reflected in the device’s performance. The 12-inch MacBook was powered by different versions of Intel’s Core-M processors, which was potentially the reason why Apple had to discontinue the devices.
In 2020, Apple introduced its custom M1 chip, which changed the computer industry as we know it. Intel and AMD were quick to notice the performance and efficiency gains the M1 chip brought to the table and made the required changes to their silicon in the coming years. We now know that Apple’s custom M-series of chips could have saved the 12-inch MacBook and created a separate niche.
Expected Performance, Design, Colors, and Display Size for Apple’s Budget MacBook With A18 Pro Chip
In terms of looks, the analyst did not share ample details, but he did mention that the machine could feature colorful casing options, which include silver, pink, and yellow. In terms of screen size, Kuo states that it will be the same size as the current MacBook Air with a 13-inch display. Moreover, he also claims that the chip will be the only way users will be able to tell the machines apart.
With an A-series chip, it is unclear which markets the machine would cater to, but we can safely presume that the price of the device will be significantly less than the MacBook Air. Our speculations suggest that the cheaper version of the MacBook with an A18 Pro chip will be priced at $700 to $800. The launch timeframe is not that far along, as Kuo points out that the machine will enter mass production by the end of this year or early next year, which gives us an indication that the cheaper MacBook could see daylight sooner rather than later.
In terms of performance, the A18 Pro chip is slightly behind the M4 chip in the Mac mini in the single-core score, with roughly 3500 points. The multi-core score tells a different story, as the iPhone scored roughly 8780 against the M4 chip’s 15000 points. However, since it will be a budget option, most users will not notice the difference as most applications and tasks rely on the single-core front. But to be fair, the A18 Pro’s multi-core scores are more or less on par with the M1 chip. This means that the device will be plenty capable of handling day-to-day tasks without any hassle.
Apple Might Take a Tiered Approach With Its MacBook Lineup Like iPhone and iPad
Kuo also believes that Apple is targeting production in the range of 5 to 7 million units for next year, which could include a significant portion of the entire Mac shipments. To make it happen, the company would have to keep an aggressively competitive price point while offering the latest features and tools essential for a Mac.
It also appears that Apple’s plans to launch a budget-friendly version of the Mac went unnoticed for a while. This is because it has been a year since the company inadvertently leaked future product listings in code that was associated with Apple Intelligence. Aaron Perris shared the project details on X, which referenced a range of iPad and Mac models. Today, MacRumors claims that a similar device to Kuo’s speculations was discovered and listed as “Mac 17,1,” which was running Apple’s A18 Pro chip. Both leaks potentially correspond to the same product.
Apple will likely use the same macOS software for the cheaper version as the MacBook Air and ‘Pro’ models, but it remains to be seen if there will be any deductions in top-tier features. Apple has to justify the price gap with the MacBook Air for its cheaper version to succeed in the market. The company is potentially adopting the same approach as it did with the iPhone, Apple Watch, and iPad.
For instance, we get three variants of the Apple Watch, starting from the SE to the standard version and then the Ultra. Same goes for the iPhone, as users have the option to buy the iPhone 16e, the standard iPhone 16, or the Pro models. For the iPad, we get an entry-level option, then the iPad Air, and the iPad Pro models. Moreover, we also get the ‘mini’ in between. For the Mac, it is an unexplored category for the company, but this time, it has to justify the device with the performance and reliability of the A18 Pro chip.
Image: Basic Apple Guy
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