We learned back in June that Apple is working on a new entry-level MacBook, to be powered by the A18 Pro chip rather than an M-series processor. This would be the first time the company has ever offered a MacBook below $999.
A new supply-chain report says that the first stage of production is scheduled to begin sometime next month, with full-scale manufacturing potentially in progress by the end of the year …
Low-cost MacBook
The MacBook Air has always been the cheapest model offered by Apple, with pricing starting at $999. However, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported back in June that this was set to change.
He writes on X that Apple will go into production in late 2025 or early 2026 on a new MacBook model that will be powered by the A18 Pro chip, rather than an M-series processor. This is the same chip used in the iPhone 16 Pro line. The machine may feature colorful casing options, including silver, pink and yellow.
He didn’t give any indication on pricing, but it has been speculated that it could start at $699, which would be $599 at education pricing.
We noted at the time that the A18 Pro chip would be perfectly adequate for the kind of everyday tasks many MacBook Air users carry out, so the report did seem feasible.
Even the M1 MacBook Air is an incredibly capable machine which makes a credible substitute for a MacBook Pro for a very wide range of tasks. As we noted earlier, an MacBook powered by the A18 Pro would, on paper at least, match or beat this. The multi–core performance is essentially identical, and the single–core benchmark score actually sits between the M3 and M4.
Component production set to begin
A new DigiTimes report says that production of some components for the upcoming machine is scheduled to begin next month which could facilitate full manufacturing before the end of the year.
Apple is preparing to shake up the notebook market with an all-new ultra-low-cost MacBook, according to supply chain sources. Some components are expected to enter mass production by the end of the third quarter of 2025, a schedule that could see full system assembly begin before the end of the year.
That would likely see it go on sale early in 2026.
9to5Mac’s Take
The new machine seems likely to significantly cannibalize MacBook Air sales, though I’ve suggested that Apple may use casing materials or colors to differentiate it.
As my colleague Ryan Christoffel suggested, this could effectively see Apple replicating its iPad model strategy with MacBooks – with machines available at all price points to suit all types of users.
I think there’s a very high chance that the new MacBook will become my default recommendation for friends who want a Mac for undemanding tasks like writing, email and web browsing.
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