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Apple's Cheap MacBook: What to Expect in 2026
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As you say, the M-series has been used in an iPad, although there does already seems to be confusion here, never mind the general public. Perhaps Apple will use an A-series chip, but name it M5 SE or something like that.
Leaving aside that there aren’t huge differences between the A-series and M-series in the first place, almost nobody cares what series is in the device. Nobody goes, “I’d really buy an Apple Watch but it only has e-cores”.
An A-series MacBook is slower and lacks Thunderbolt. As a result, they can price it below the Air. I don’t think this is very confusing.
Read the replies to this story. There are multiple responses where they believe the rumoured cheap MacBook won't be able to run macOS apps because it has an iPhone chip. It causes confusion.
It won't cause confusion with people who know nothing bout CPUs.
It won't cause confusion with people who are well informed bout CPUs.
The inbetweens have a small overlap with potential costumers for this device.
-> no problem
Hehe, you've been around long enough to know that comments on a front page article are not necessarily representative of what people actually believe.
Among whom, though?
If Apple made a device called a "Mac" that doesn't run "mac"OS, that would indeed be very confusing. But I don't think that's the plan here at all. This is just a MacBook, that runs macOS, but that happens to use an A-series SoC, which for most users won't matter at all.
Then your experience is about 10 years behind and you need to catch up. Today right now Apple sells the M1 MacBook Air for $599 and that by far is the best value laptop in tech, some would might even argue the M4 MacBook Air is an even better value. Point is, Apple is no longer the high end only brand, and this new MacBook is simply just to replace the M1 MacBook Air. Which Apple needs to do, they can’t sell that laptop forever and it’s gonna lose macOS support in a couple years.
And “slower” is a relative term here. If the new chip is even a little faster than the M1 then it’s already going to give mainstream PCs with Intel i-series and AMD Ryzen series chips headaches along with better battery life. Apple isn’t just dipping its toe into the mainstream market with a device of comparable performance—they’re bringing the benefits of their Apple Silicon tech into the mainstream.
Imagine if the old M1 MacBook Air were still widely available now at $699 US. It’s still a better machine than pretty much anything in the mainstream laptop market. I can tell you I could have sold a boatload of them. Now, soon, Apple will have a newly designed machine, slightly better than the M1, wading into the mainstream market at $699 US. By all rights that should make a decent hole in PC laptop sales. Sure, there will be some for whom Windows is the only answer, but for anyone who would like to have considered a Mac, but the price of the MacBook Air was too steep for their budget that objection will no longer exist.
It will be interesting to see what the response will be to this in HP, Lenovo, Asus, Acer and other laptops. Will we start seeing more Snapdragon chips showing up in those machines? Thats already started because you can be sure those in the tech market already have an idea whats coming.
It’s not an “iPhone chip”, the iPad and iPad mini and Apple TV and original HomePod, hell even the Studio Display, all run on A chips. Just like how the M chip is not a “Mac chip” as it’s used in iPads and Apple Vision Pro etc. None of this causes any confusion. Plus once Apple announces the product and shows that it’s a fully fledged MacBook running macOS then that would quiet all of the idiots who think what you’re saying.
I believe that Walmart in the US was selling boatloads of them (which probably counts as "widely" available from a US-centric POV) - probably why Apple are considering doing this.
Here in the UK I see that Argos is listing M2 Airs for £699 (UK computer prices usually work out at £1=$1 by the time you take off the tax).
You think Apple is gonna take the A18 Pro, a chip they’ve had for a while, and just randomly rename it to M5 SE or something like that?? Holy **** NO, I honestly cannot believe anyone would even *think* that that would happen, that makes no sense from any angle you look at it. An A chip renamed as an M chip? That’s LITERALLY what the existing M chips are right now! They’re just more powerful A chips, that’s all, it’s just a branding name. Also what are some examples of this confusion you’re referring to with the iPads using M chips? Because you’re just completely making that up, you’re making up random nonsense in your head to try to justify the random nonsense in your head, that’s circular logic.
True, but if this device becomes a reality, it seems likely that reviewers whose income depends on views and clicks might choose to keep the "iPhone chip" as part of the description.
I don't get why people are comparing a discounted price of a 5 year old computer to a new potential computer.
Maybe in 5 years the A18 MacBook will be sold in Walmart for $399???
It seems like a pointless comparison.
Apple doesn't want to keep selling the M1, so it is moot how good of a deal it is.
Once this is released, whichever chip it uses, the confusion will be replaced by information.
I didn't say there was confusion on iPads using M chips, I was acknowledging that Apple have deviated from M for Mac, A for iPhones and iPads. But I think going the other way is not a good look, M chips are noted so prominently on the boxes and a lot of marketing.
Here is an example of confusion from the previous page, there are others in this thread, starting at the very first reply (the original story wasn't edited as that person suggested, otherwise it would have the same "Last Edited" note as that post has).
This is just branding and marketing. I'm sure Apple will figure it out.
Apple's customers are not delicate, easy to confuse, flowers. Everything will be fine.
The M1 could just as easily be called the A14X.
The only confusion I could see is: Intel apps not running, or not running as well... but I expect all running Mac Intel apps is going away in a few years anyway.
Which… is kind of an argument towards it happening?
If I were to guess, they won’t. The Air and above get the M-series, and this just gets the A19 Pro. They might not bill the SoC much at all. That way, other Macs are implicitly more premium.
But would I be shocked if they call it the M5 SE? No.
Gurman next year: hey! Low cost macbook and homekit device with screen definitely coming in 2027!!! Trust me bro!
What a scammer..
What a scammer..
I hate these wide screens 16/9 smaller than 19”. Small laptop screens need to be 4/3 to be useable.
On a side note, I can see a time where Apple reduces their iPad / Macbook lineup from 3 down back to 2. So you have;
Macbooks (13" / 15") powered by A-series chips. MBP (14" / 16") models powered by M-series processors
iPads (11" / 12.9") powered by A-series chips. iPad Pro (11" / 12.9") powered by M-series chips
Less confusing than a 3-model lineup
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Alternatively, I would prefer Apple to move to 4 or 5 model lineups.
More customer choice, more price points, better range of products.
Win win.
I think that was their goal ca. 2016, but then the found people really liked the association of “MacBook Air” with “the cheap one”, so they’ve given up on it.
As for the iPad, they do want that low-end segment.