Apple could be working on a low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone chip.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo shared on X that the “more affordable MacBook” is expected to sport a 13-inch display and will be powered by the A18 Pro chip—which debuted in the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max.
This rumour was further corroborated by MacRumors, who said they spotted code in Apple Intelligence that referenced a new device with the identifier “Mac17,1.”
We’ve covered the A18 Pro’s performance extensively in a separate feature, so check it out. In a nutshell, it’s a very capable chip that has performance that rivals, and in some instances surpasses, Apple’s desktop-class M1 chip.
Kuo added that the low-cost MacBook could be available in four colourways: silver, blue, pink, and yellow. It is expected to enter mass production in Q4 2025 or Q1 2026.
The budget model is said to be part of Apple’s strategy to achieve total MacBook shipments of about 25 million units in 2026. Apple reportedly estimates that this new low-cost model could account for 20 to 28% of the total shipments next year.
If Kuo’s report is accurate, this would be the first Mac with an iPhone chip. Apple started using custom M-series chips in Macs in 2020 and this began with the M1 chip. These custom chips offer vastly superior performance and power efficiency as compared to Intel chips of that time. Even now, rivals are struggling to match the performance and efficiency of these M-series chips.
Apple could be taking a page from its iPad playbook, where the Pro and Air models use desktop-class M-series chips, while the entry-level and Mini models rely on less powerful mobile-class A-series chips. Whether a similar strategy for the MacBook will help boost shipments and disrupt the entry-level laptop market remains to be seen.
Source: Ming-Chi Kuo, MacRumors