Apple usually moves in the high-end with most of its devicesBut every now and then it loosens its grip with somewhat more affordable models. It has done so in recent years with stripped-down versions of the iPhone and iPad, and all signs point to the next step being to extend this same strategy to the laptop market with a Cheap MacBook based on an iPhone processor.
The idea is not new within the company: to offer products that maintain the core user experience, but with a lower entry priceThis model includes devices like the iPhone 16e and the upcoming iPhone 17e, as well as the more basic iPads. Now, according to various leaks and supply chain analyses, Apple is finalizing a laptop designed for those who want to enter the Mac ecosystem without paying the current price of a MacBook Air.
From M chips to the leap to an iPhone processor
The first solid clues about this project came from Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst specializing in Apple and the semiconductor industry, who had already predicted in June that the company was working on Affordable MacBook powered by an A-chipThis report was soon joined by media outlets such as DigiTimes and other Asian technology publications.
Since 2020, Apple has been updating all its computers with its own family of processors. Apple Silicon M-seriesleaving behind more than a decade of Intel processors, and before that, IBM chips. The model in development would break that trend: It would be Apple's first laptop in about six years that doesn't use the M series.but to a SoC derived directly from the most advanced iPhones.
Installing an iPhone chip in a MacBook This represents a fairly clear change in focus. It's not a laptop designed for professionals or heavy workloads, but rather for emerging markets, students, and users new to the ecosystem who don't need as much power. It's a similar approach to what we've already seen in tablets like the 11th generation iPad with A16 chipwhere Apple prioritizes lowering the price without giving up the operating system or the app ecosystem.
DigiTimes has gone further, specifying that this new laptop would feature a LCD screen approximately 13 inches (around 12,9 actual inches) and would be animated by the SoC A18 Pro, the same processor used in the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max, the brand's top-of-the-range mobile phone models.
In terms of performance, reports indicate that the The A18 Pro would be on par with the Apple M1, the first chip in the M series. This means more than enough power for office work, web browsing, online classes, email management, video calls and light content creation tasks, positioning it as an entry-level but capable device.
Screen, memory and design: cuts where it hurts the most
Regarding memory, rumors agree that the base model would come with 8 GB of RAMIt's a modest figure by today's standards, especially considering that some high-end iPhones match or exceed that amount, but it fits with the idea of to minimize manufacturing costs to lower the final price.
Regarding the external design, leaks suggest that Apple will not take too many risks: It would make great use of the 13-inch MacBook Air chassis.Made of aluminum, with a slim and lightweight design. The internal components would change, but on the outside it would still be a recognizable laptop, without any major aesthetic flourishes or groundbreaking innovations.
This approach makes sense if we consider who the target audience will be. students and users seeking portability Consumers tend to value weight, battery life, and price more than a design revolution. Reusing a proven chassis allows Apple to save costs and focus on fine-tuning other components like the screen and battery.
Precisely the use of a A-family chip in a 13-inch device This opens up an interesting margin internally: being a smaller SoC with lower thermal demands than an M chip, it could fit inside the laptop a considerable free internal volume that could be used to mount a higher capacity batteryThat extra space, combined with the efficiency of the A18 Pro, is key to understanding where Apple wants to make a difference.
For reference, the current 13-inch MacBook with M4 processor It promises up to 18 hours of streaming video playback and approximately 15 hours of wireless web browsing, according to official company figures. Internal estimates from analysts indicate that this model with an iPhone chip could extend the autonomy by two or three additional hours. in similar usage scenarios, something very attractive for students and users who spend the day away from home.
Release date and production plans
Regarding the schedule, reports place the start of the production in the third quarter of 2025The initial plan was to reach stores by the end of that same year. That window would have shifted, and ultimately, the debut would have been postponed to 2026.
In his Power On newsletter, the journalist Mark GurmanOne of the most reliable sources when it comes to Apple, says the company is now working on a launch horizon. at the beginning of 2026 or, at the latest, within the first half of the yearThat would fit with an announcement at a spring event or, failing that, with a discreet presentation via press release, something Apple has already done with other products.
This new MacBook would fit into the company's strategy of to strengthen its position against Windows laptops and ChromebooksEspecially in the affordable laptop segment. In Europe and Spain, where price is a decisive factor for students and families, a Mac laptop below the psychological barrier of one thousand euros could have considerable potential.
Supply chain sources indicate that the adjusted timeline allowed Apple to refine both the design and positioning of the product, avoiding excessive cannibalization of the MacBook Air and ensuring that this model is clearly perceived as the gateway to the Mac ecosystemnot as a simple disguised price reduction of the Air.
Expected price and comparison with the MacBook Air M4
The price section is perhaps the one that generates the most noise. The rumors can't seem to agree.and different figures have been circulating in recent months. Some sources mentioned an initial range of between 599 and 699 dollars, clearly below any current laptop from the brand.
More recent reports slightly raise that range and suggest that the cost could be around $ 750 for the base model with 8GB of RAM. Although there is no official data for Europe, such a price could translate to slightly more in the Spanish market after taxes, but it would still be significantly lower than the current MacBook Air.
To put it in context, the 13,6-inch MacBook Air with M4 chip It's currently the most affordable laptop in Apple's catalog. In the United States, it starts at $999, while in Spain its official price is around the 1.099 €The difference with a hypothetical entry-level MacBook priced between $599 and $799 would be considerable, even after the usual price adjustment in euros.
There's another key factor: Apple currently charges about $200 to upgrade the RAM in many of their computers. If the new laptop starts with 8 GB and a higher configuration is offered, that version would approach the MacBook Air's price range dangerously close. In that scenario, The purchase decision would come down to autonomy, weight, and design., more than in raw power, because the Air with the M4 chip would still offer an extra margin of performance.
With all these pieces on the table, the natural place for this MacBook in the market seems clear: an entry-level computer designed to be the first Mac for many userswith a reasonable cost and without the ambition to compete with high-end ultrabooks or gaming laptops.
Who is this new budget MacBook for?
The target user profile for this laptop is fairly well defined by the leaked specifications. Firstly, high school and university students who need a lightweight device to carry in their backpack, with good battery life to last a day of classes, take notes, consult educational platforms and do work in the cloud.
Secondly, this model is aimed at home users who today prefer Windows or Chromebook due to price. People who primarily use computers to browse the internet, watch series, manage photos and documents, shop online, or communicate via video calls.
It might also be of interest to those who already own an iPhone or iPad and want Complete the ecosystem with a first Mac.But so far, they haven't dared to venture into this market due to the investment required for a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro. If Apple manages to maintain a smooth macOS experience with the A18 Pro chip and 8GB of RAM for simple tasks, this machine could serve as an entry point without too many compromises.
Where there will be clear limits is in more demanding uses. Those who need intensive video editing, working with large photo librariesFrequent use of virtual machines or compiling code will still be better served by a Mac with an M-series chip and more memory. This budget MacBook isn't trying to compete in that area, but rather to fill the "first Mac laptop" niche.
Looking at the European market and, specifically, at Spain, the device fits with the trend of many educational centers that have already begun to integrate cloud platforms and online toolsA relatively affordable laptop, with good battery life and Apple's application environment, could be especially interesting in that context, provided the price difference with the MacBook Air remains clear.
If analysts' predictions are correct, this new MacBook with an iPhone processor would arrive in 2026 as Apple's most aggressive bid in years to conquer the entry-level laptop market: a device that sacrifices some memory and power compared to the M-chip models, but compensates with a lower cost, very competitive battery life, and the same access to macOS as the rest of the Mac family.
