Apple is reportedly developing a new entry-level MacBook designed to appeal to budget-conscious buyers, signaling a rare expansion beyond its MacBook Air and Pro lines.
Highlights
- Affordable Pricing: Expected to start at $699 with potential student pricing at $599.
- A18 Pro Processor: Same chip as iPhone 16 Pro, enabling AI features, strong performance, and better battery life.
- Performance Level: Benchmarks suggest single-core scores around 3,500 and multi-core near 8,780, close to M1-level performance.
- New MacBook Category: Not part of Air or Pro lines — could revive the slim, fanless 12-inch MacBook design.
- Education & Mainstream Focus: Targeting students and budget-conscious consumers to rival Chromebooks and low-cost Windows laptops.
- Launch Window: Mass production set for late 2025 or early 2026, with release expected in early 2026.
According to industry sources, the laptop has been in development for several months and may debut as early as the first quarter of 2026. The device is expected to target mainstream consumers and the education sector.
Pricing and Market Positioning
Reports suggest the new MacBook could start at around $699, with potential student pricing at $599.
This would make it the most affordable new MacBook in years—positioned well below the M1 MacBook Air (2020) and closer to premium Chromebooks in price.
Hardware and Performance
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo indicates the laptop may feature a 13-inch display and run on Apple’s A18 Pro chip, the same processor used in the iPhone 16 Pro models.
This marks a departure from Apple’s usual M-series Mac chips and could allow for tighter hardware-software integration, lower costs, and extended battery life.
The A18 Pro also supports Apple Intelligence features, meaning AI-driven tools—such as advanced text assistance and on-device machine learning—could be available even at this lower price tier.
Benchmark estimates place its performance near the original M1 chip in everyday tasks, with single-core scores around 3,500 and multi-core scores near 8,780.
Design and Product Identity
The device is not expected to fall under the MacBook Air or Pro branding. References to a “Mac17,1” model found in macOS 15.1 code point to a new category within Apple’s laptop lineup.
Some analysts speculate it could revive the ultra-portable 12-inch MacBook design, leveraging the A18 Pro’s efficiency for a slim, fanless build.
Production
Mass production could begin between late 2025 and early 2026, aligning with the projected launch schedule.
Industry forecasts suggest Apple may aim to produce 5–7 million units in the first year, signaling an aggressive push into markets dominated by Chromebooks and budget Windows laptops.
