Apple’s Budget MacBook May Feature iPhone Chip
▼ Summary
– Apple plans to launch a low-cost Mac laptop in the first half of 2026, powered by an iPhone chip and featuring a lower-end LCD display.
– The laptop will be priced well under $1,000, similar to the cost of an entry-level iPad with a Magic Keyboard Folio.
– Apple’s testing shows the iPhone chip can outperform the M1 chip used in previous Mac laptops, targeting casual users, students, and businesses.
– The laptop will have an entirely new design and come in multiple colors, as reported by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, using the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone 16 Pro.
– Apple has also completed work on a MacBook Air with the M5 chip for release early next year, with M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pros in development.
Apple is reportedly developing a more affordable MacBook that will utilize an iPhone chip, aiming for a launch in the first half of 2026. This strategic move is designed to expand Apple’s market reach by offering a budget-friendly laptop option priced well below $1,000. According to sources, the device will feature a lower-end LCD screen with dimensions slightly smaller than the current 13.6-inch MacBook Air, positioning it in a similar price bracket as an entry-level iPad combined with a Magic Keyboard Folio.
Internal testing has revealed that the iPhone chip selected for this model can outperform the M1 chip, which was used in Mac laptops just a few years ago. While Apple’s laptops have traditionally relied on M-series processors, this shift highlights the increasing power and efficiency of mobile chipsets. The upcoming laptop will sport an entirely new design and is expected to appeal to casual users, students, and business customers looking for a capable yet economical device.
Earlier this year, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also indicated that Apple was working on a cost-effective MacBook powered by an A-series chip. Kuo specified that the device would likely run on the A18 Pro chip, the same processor found in the iPhone 16 Pro models. The laptop is anticipated to be available in multiple color options, including silver, blue, pink, and yellow, adding a fresh aesthetic to Apple’s portable computing lineup.
In related news, Apple has reportedly completed development of a new MacBook Air equipped with the recently introduced M5 chip, with a release expected early next year. Additionally, the company is actively working on MacBook Pro models that will incorporate the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, continuing its commitment to advancing performance across its laptop series.
(Source: The Verge)
