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Apple's low-cost Macbook uses iPhone chips. Photo: Bloomberg . |
According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple seems to be developing a new MacBook model that will be cheaper than the MacBook Air. Notably, this model will not use the usual M-series chip, but instead the A18 Pro, the chip currently equipped on the iPhone 16 Pro.
Kuo said Apple will put the new MacBook into mass production in late 2025 or early 2026. The plan is part of a strategy to expand market share by entering the lower-priced device segment, a segment Apple has previously avoided. According to estimates, the iPhone maker is aiming for a production of 5-7 million units in 2026, accounting for a significant portion of the total MacBook production annually.
This low-cost MacBook will likely have a 13-inch screen, similar to the MacBook Air, and a familiar thin and light design. However, the biggest difference will be the A18 Pro processor, a chip optimized for smartphones but powerful enough to handle common tasks on a laptop. Apple may offer new color options such as silver, rose gold, and gold to target younger users.
According to Geekbench data, the A18 Pro scored around 3,500 in single-core, just a bit behind the M4 chip currently found in the Mac Mini. Meanwhile, the multi-core score was around 8,780, significantly lower than the 15,000 of the M4 chip.
However, experts note that most everyday tasks like web browsing, word processing, video streaming, or online learning rely heavily on single-core performance, which the A18 Pro is performing well.
In fact, the A18 Pro chip has an overall performance that is almost on par with the M1, the first Apple Silicon line that made a splash when it was launched in 2020. To this day, many people still use M1 chip devices stably for their daily work.
Apple has never released a MacBook model priced below $999 , so the company's consideration of launching a cheaper version could mark a strategic shift, especially as the global PC market stagnates and competition intensifies.
While MacBooks have traditionally used desktop chips, many of Apple's iPads share processors with the iPhone. The iPad mini (2024) uses the same A17 Pro chip as the iPhone 15 Pro, while the iPad 11 (2025) uses the A16 Bionic processor.
Source: https://znews.vn/apple-sap-ra-mat-macbook-dung-chip-iphone-post1565081.html
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