Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the company will launch a cheaper MacBook next year. The new laptop will use the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone 16 Pro.
What Makes This MacBook Different
This MacBook will be the first Mac computer to use an iPhone chip. Apple previously used iPad chips in some developer machines, but never iPhone processors in regular Mac products.
The A18 Pro chip has:
- 6-core processor
- 6-core graphics
- 16-core Neural Engine
Performance Expectations
The A18 Pro chip runs about 40% slower than Apple’s newest M4 chip. However, it performs nearly the same as the M1 chip from the 2020 MacBook Air. The graphics performance actually beats the M1 chip.
Expected Price
Kuo calls this a “more affordable” MacBook but didn’t give exact pricing. The current MacBook Air costs $999, so this new model will likely cost between $699 and $899.
Apple still sells the 2020 MacBook Air through Walmart for $649. The new MacBook with A18 Pro chip could replace that older model.
Technical Limitations
The A18 Pro chip doesn’t support Thunderbolt connections. The new MacBook will have regular USB-C ports instead. These ports will:
- Look the same as Thunderbolt ports
- Transfer data at only 10 Gb/s (slower than Thunderbolt)
- Support only one external monitor
Current iPhones with A18 Pro chips have 8GB of memory. All MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models now start with 16GB of memory.
Design and Colors
The new MacBook will have a 13-inch screen, the same size as the smaller MacBook Air. It won’t bring back the old 12-inch MacBook that Apple discontinued.
The laptop could come in bright colors like silver, blue, pink, and yellow. This would match the colorful iMac computers Apple sells now.
Release Timeline
Kuo expects Apple to start making the new MacBook in late 2025 or early 2026. The laptop should go on sale sometime in 2026.
Why This Makes Sense
Apple moved all Mac computers from Intel chips to its own processors. This change makes it easier to use iPhone chips in Mac computers. The company no longer faces the power and heat problems that Intel processors caused in thin laptops.
A budget MacBook could attract customers who want a Mac computer but find current prices too high.
