Apple’s cheapest MacBook yet could launch in March with an iPhone chip

Apple MacBook

• Apple to launch a cheaper MacBook with A18 Pro chip in March
• New MacBook may feature a 12.9-inch aluminium display
• Expected to start at $699, targeting students and casual users

Did our AI summary help?

Apple has long been rumoured to be working on a cheaper MacBook, and a fresh report now suggests that device is close to becoming reality. According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, Apple plans to announce the new MacBook at an event in March, positioning it as a more accessible entry point into the Mac ecosystem.

What makes this MacBook particularly notable is what’s inside it. Instead of using Mac-specific Apple Silicon, the laptop is expected to run on the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone 16 lineup. On paper, that places it below the current MacBook Air in terms of raw performance, but it is far from underpowered.

The A18 Pro is reportedly the first iPhone chip to come close to matching the original M1 chip that kickstarted Apple’s silicon transition on the Mac. For everyday computing tasks such as web browsing, document work, media consumption, and light creative workloads, performance should be more than adequate for the target audience.

On the hardware side, Gurman reports that the laptop will feature a display slightly under 13 inches, with earlier leaks pointing to a 12.9-inch panel. Importantly, Apple does not appear to be cutting corners with materials. Despite speculation that a plastic chassis could be used to lower costs, the company is said to be sticking with aluminium.

To keep manufacturing costs down, Apple has reportedly developed a new aluminium shell production process that is faster and cheaper than the one used for current MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models. This allows Apple to maintain its premium build quality while still hitting a lower price point.

Another area where Apple may experiment is design. The new MacBook is said to be tested in a range of colours, including light yellow, light green, blue, pink, classic silver, and dark grey. If these make it to the final product, it would mark one of the most playful Mac colour line-ups Apple has attempted in years.

While recent Mac rumours have largely focused on high-end machines such as the upcoming M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pros, this lower-cost MacBook could prove to be just as strategically important. It appears aimed at students, casual users, and anyone invested in Apple’s ecosystem who has previously found Macs too expensive for their needs.

Previous reports suggest the new MacBook could start at around $699, undercutting the MacBook Air by a significant margin. If Apple delivers on price, performance, and build quality, this could be its most disruptive Mac launch in years.