Apple plans budget 12.9-inch MacBook with A18 Pro chip

Apple is widely expected to broaden its budget lineup with a new low-cost MacBook, potentially priced around 599 to 699, and built around an iPhone-style chip. Industry reports indicate the machine would feature a 12.9-inch display and run on an A18 Pro processor, marking the first MacBook to use an A-series chip rather than Apple’s M-series line. Mass production of some components could begin in the third quarter of 2025, with a launch likely later in 2025 or early 2026. The device would be positioned to compete with Chromebooks and other affordable Windows laptops, expanding Apple’s reach beyond premium and midrange devices to price-conscious students and light users.

The proposed device would be lighter and more compact than today’s MacBook Air models. Early details suggest a streamlined design, potentially with a 12.9-inch Retina display and a simplified feature set. To hit a lower price point, the notebook is expected to forego certain high-end ports and capabilities, notably Thunderbolt support, in favor of USB-C connections rated at up to 10 Gbps. The reported configuration would likely start from 8 GB of RAM, with the possibility of higher RAM options on more capable...