Apple to Release Budget MacBook with iPhone 16 Pro Chip
The Cupertino company is preparing a laptop priced below the iconic $999 mark, featuring vibrant body colors and a mobile processor.
Tech giant Apple is planning to launch an entirely new laptop that will be the most affordable in the Mac lineup. The device will be powered by the A18 Pro processor—the same chip used in the top-end iPhone 16 Pro smartphones.
Renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has reported that production is expected to begin in late 2025 or early 2026. The company aims to manufacture 5–7 million units in 2026, which would represent a significant share of total MacBook shipments. These volumes suggest an aggressive pricing strategy aimed at attracting mainstream buyers.
The new model will come in eye-catching colors, including silver, pink, and yellow. This marks a departure from the traditional muted tones of professional models and more closely resembles the design approach of the iMac lineup.
The A18 Pro chip delivers impressive Geekbench scores, with a single-core result of 3,539—just below the Mac mini’s M4 chip. Multi-core scores reach 8,772, compared to the M4’s 15,000, but remain on par with the original 2020 M1 chip.
For most users, this gap in multi-core performance will be negligible, as basic computing tasks generally rely on single-core performance. Web browsing, document editing, video streaming, and light photo editing do not demand heavy multi-threading.
For the first time, Apple is expected to break below the psychological $999 price point, which has long been the entry level for the Mac ecosystem. The success of this model will largely depend on how significantly its price undercuts that of the MacBook Air. Using a mobile chip instead of the specialized M-series processors will reduce manufacturing costs, while still offering sufficient performance for macOS and essential apps.
Meanwhile, Nvidia has also unveiled a new product for laptops—its RTX 5050 graphics card for portable PCs.