A cheaper MacBook with an iPhone chip makes complete sense

Apple is planning to launch a new, more affordable MacBook model, according to the latest from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

The well-connected Apple analyst says the new laptop will go into production in late 2025 or early 2026 and will be powered by the A18 Pro chip currently found in the iPhone 16 Pro series.

That’s significant because Apple has always relied on its M-series processors to power MacBook models since the move away from Intel. The new laptop will also have a 13-inch screen like the existing MacBook Air, Kuo says.

The new MacBook could also come in some vibrant colours like silver, pink and yellow, according to the report. This would fit with other more affordable Apple lines, like the standard iPhone 16 and iPad Air M3, which both come in a variety of colours.

However, the most interesting aspect of this report is the potential for a much lower price. There’s no mention of price in the report, but it would make sense for it to be notably lower than the £999/$999 MacBook Air – this is currently Apple’s entry-level new machine.

How would the laptop perform?

The performance of the A18 Pro chip is less than the M-series chips, but it’s still pretty powerful. In our iPhone 16 Pro review, we found that it scored 3539 in single-core Geekbench 6 tests.

That’s pretty close to the M4 chip that powers the Mac mini, which scored 3832 in the same test. Multi-core performance is still better on the M chips though, so this would be a machine for those who don’t plan to do intensive tasks.

This new laptop could still handle everyday tasks pretty well, even if it isn’t as powerful as the M-series chips.

As with all leaks and reports like this, there’s no telling whether this product will actually see the light of day, and if it does, it could be in a very different form from these rumours. But it’s exciting nevertheless.

Opinion

For me, this makes complete sense. I could see it as a revival of the MacBook name, a followup to the 12-inch machine that first introduced fanless MacBooks and USB-C.

Apple needs a machine to go up against the more affordable Windows options and the higher-end Chromebooks, and this could be it. In the same way there’s a basic iPad below the Air, this would be the basic MacBook below the MacBook Air.

The success of this new model will come down to how much cheaper it is than the MacBook Air, though. If it comes in at a much lower price, it could reshape Apple’s offerings and enable it to reach a wider audience.douldAs it

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