Apple’s current entry-level laptop is the $999 MacBook Air, but analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts a new, more affordable model is on the horizon. The upcoming machine will be powered by the A18 Pro chip, similar to that used in the iPhone 16 Pro line. Although it’ll share the same 13-inch screen size as the MacBook Air, the chip’s performance might not be dramatically different.
Kuo believes Apple aims to produce around 5-7 million units in 2026, which could indicate a significant price drop compared to the current MacBook Air. The A18 Pro chip’s single-core performance is comparable to the M4 chip found in Mac mini, while its multicore score rivals that of the original M1 chip from 2020.
The success of this new MacBook will depend on its price point and how it justifies a potential performance gap with the existing Air model. This would be an uncharted territory for Apple, as they’ve never ventured below $999 before. Colorful casing options might be a selling point, but consumers will need to weigh the benefits against the cost difference.
Source: https://9to5mac.com/2025/06/30/cheaper-macbook-iphone-chip-kuo