Alleged upcoming MacBook models, priced between $599 and $699, are rumored. A 12.9-inch version is suspected, with the iPhone 16 Pro's chipset reportedly slated for manufacturing in Q3 2025.
The tech world is abuzz with rumours about Apple's upcoming affordable MacBook, set to disrupt the laptop market with its competitive pricing and high-performance A18 Pro chip. This device, priced between $599 and $699, is expected to feature a 12.9-inch display and mark Apple's first use of an iPhone-class chip in a MacBook.
The A18 Pro chip, similar to the one used in the iPhone 16 Pro, is designed to compete with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 parts. Despite having fewer CPU and GPU cores than Apple’s M1 and M4 chips, it performs competitively. Geekbench benchmarking shows the A18 Pro outperforming the M1 in single-core tests by about 43% and matching it closely in multi-core scores.
While the hardware details beyond the chip and screen size are limited, it's anticipated that the device will have limited RAM and storage to keep costs down. However, battery life is expected to be good, benefiting from Apple’s optimization of A-series chips, similar to current M-series Macs.
The new affordable MacBook, smaller than the current MacBook Air, is part of Apple's strategy to expand its market share in the lower-priced laptop segment. Production is anticipated to start with components entering mass production by Q3 2025, with a potential launch timeline in late 2025 or early 2026.
The potential impact on the market is significant. Apple's offering of a significantly lower-cost MacBook option could attract budget-conscious consumers and potentially emerging markets, shaking up competition in the entry-level notebook segment. This device could also help offset price inflation seen in other MacBook models.
It's worth noting that the rumoured cheaper MacBook is not expected to be aimed at the Chromebook-dominated education market, with Apple focusing on its iPads in that sector instead. The move to introduce a cheaper MacBook may cannibalize some sales of the Air line, requiring careful balance for overall profitability.
With this affordable MacBook, Apple could boost its current annual unit shipments by 30% to 40%. In summary, the rumoured $599-$699 MacBook with an A18 Pro chip combines iPhone-level silicon in a compact MacBook form factor with competitive performance and aggressive pricing, possibly broadening Apple's laptop market share by appealing to cost-sensitive buyers.
Manufacturing of the new MacBook is likely to be handled by Quanta, a major Taiwanese ODM that manufactures products for Apple, Dell, HP, and others. Analysts do not foresee the affordable MacBook targeting the education market, focusing instead on capturing more market share in the budget-conscious consumer segment.
Sources:
- Apple's A18 Bionic chip outperforms M1 in single-core tests
- Apple's Affordable MacBook: What We Know So Far
- Apple's Affordable MacBook: What to Expect
- Apple's Affordable MacBook: A Game-Changer in the Laptop Market
- Apple's Affordable MacBook: A New Era for Budget-Friendly Computing
The A18 Pro chip, similar to the one used in the iPhone 16 Pro, will not only power the upcoming affordable MacBook but also make it competitive with devices utilizing the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 parts. The new budget-friendly MacBook, anticipated to debut in late 2025 or early 2026, is likely to feature gadgets like smartphones, given its integration of iPhone-class technology.
