Alleged MacBook with a price range of $599-$699 may be in development, accompanied by a 12.9-inch model speculated to feature the iPhone 16 Pro SoC, with production potentially starting Q3 2025.
In an exciting development, Apple is rumoured to be launching a new MacBook model towards the end of 2025 or early 2026. This affordable laptop is expected to offer a 12.9-inch display and be powered by the A18 Pro chip, originally from the iPhone 16 Pro.
The A18 Pro chip is a powerhouse, featuring 2x Everest cores at 4.05 GHz and 4x Sawtooth efficiency cores at 2.42 GHz. It also boasts an integrated hexa-core GPU with 768 shaders, offering performance comparable to the M1 chip but slower than newer M-series chips.
The new MacBook is expected to come with 8GB of RAM as standard, with a possible upgrade to 16GB. It will include standard USB-C ports without Thunderbolt support, positioning it as a lightweight, colourful laptop aimed at students and casual users. The price point is anticipated to be around $599 to $799[1][3][5].
This budget-friendly MacBook could be a game-changer for Apple, expanding its market by providing a lower-priced option below the MacBook Air. It is designed to appeal to price-sensitive customers such as students and casual users, helping Apple compete in the lower-priced laptop segment and diversify its MacBook lineup.
Interestingly, the display size of the new MacBook is reminiscent of the 12-inch MacBook of 2015-2017. Analysts predict a potential increase of 30% to 40% in Apple's annual MacBook shipments due to the new affordable MacBooks[2].
It's worth noting that this cheaper MacBook is not expected to target the Chromebook-dominated education market, as Apple competes in this sector with its iPads. The new MacBook could potentially cannibalise some sales of the Air line, requiring Apple to balance the range for overall profitability.
Apple's MacBook sales have been healthy due to the successful pivot to Apple Silicon and the attractive performance-efficiency combination. With the launch of the new affordable MacBook, Apple may be poised to capture demand that might otherwise go to competing brands, broadening accessibility to its MacBook lineup.
Sources: [1] MacRumors [2] Digitimes [3] 9to5Mac [5] TechRadar
The A18 Pro chip, with its impressive specifications, could power not only the new MacBook but also future smartphones from Apple, bringing advanced technology to other gadgets as well. This affordable MacBook, featuring a 12.9-inch display, could attract a new demographic of buyers, including students and casual users, who might typically opt for smartphones or affordable gadgets instead of full-fledged laptops.
