Apple's Cheap MacBook: What to Expect in 2026

[DavidSchaub]

What do you mean? What features am I missing on MacBook Air M1 8GB? There is Apple Intelligence.

The M1 is already more than 5 years old, and likely only has ~3 new OS releases in it.

The M1's NPU TOPS of 11 is really weak, so it wouldn't surprise me if Apple defends dropping the M1 due to AI performance. The A18 Pro is at 35 TOPS, and the A19 Pro is going to be even better.

The M1 Air is just an old machine, and Apple should ship something better (in some ways) at the same price point.

 

[bigglow]

Half year ago in developing markets 3rd party dealers were selling 2020 MBA 13" M1 8GB 256GB for approx $600 + tax.

I know this because we deployed half a dozen of them to our personnel.

Currently the 2022 MBA 13" M2 16GB 256GB is $700 + tax.

Looking forward to a MacBook with iPhone chip that sells for under $600 + tax as the ThinkPad E14 & E16 that was proposed was selling for nearly $800.

 

[bigglow]

The M1 is already more than 5 years old, and likely only has ~3 new OS releases in it.

The M1's NPU TOPS of 11 is really weak, so it wouldn't surprise me if Apple defends dropping the M1 due to AI performance. The A18 Pro is at 35 TOPS, and the A19 Pro is going to be even better.

The M1 Air is just an old machine, and Apple should ship something better (in some ways) at the same price point.

Given the price and target market do we really care? We'll just replace them upon the final macOS Security Update that will occur no later than 2030.

 

[StoneJack]

this notebook will not be touch and will not support iPadOS.
It will run a regular MacOS and faster than M1 for that matter

 

[segfaultdotorg]

Downmarket. SAD! Steve Jobs is spinning in his grave.

 

[DavidSchaub]

You can buy an M4 MBA for $749 13" and $949 15" on Amazon.

Time will tell what at $599 MacBook looks like when IT is on sale. Maybe $499?

 

[erihp]

You’re aware that an iPad runs iPadOS correct? Apple’s marketing sure has you fooled.

i think you missed my point. i want to run macos in an ipad but apple wont 'allow' it. now they want to sell a new device when they could just ship software.

 

[erihp]

All laptops are sort of like an iPad with a keyboard (and usually no touch screen). It's the software/OS that differentiates more than the hardware.

thats my point. we already have perfectly good hardware that could run macos in the ipad. the fact that its not allowed is infuriating.

 

[DavidSchaub]

1. Display size 12.9 inch
2. CPU A18 Max
3. RAM 16GB
4. Storage 256GB
5. Price 699 dollars.
6. Materials and color: strong matte plastic, black
7. Weight: 900 grams or under 1 kg
8. Keyboard standard Macbook keyboard
9. Apple Modem
10. Wifi 6
11. 2 stereo speakers
12. Facetime camera

Pretty close to mine, though I cut it down more to hit $599 (in half-donkey'd order of likely):
- A18 Pro
- smaller battery
- one external display
- M1's webcam
- 2x 10 Gbps USB-C (or 1x UBS-C + MagSafe)
- headphone jack
- two speakers
- 256GB storage (one chip)
- 12GB RAM
- no Rosetta 2
- no cell modem
- whatever wifi/bt chip is cheaper
- sub-retina screen
- non-backlit keyboard
- plastic case
- no charger in the box

 

[iHorseHead]

The M1 is already more than 5 years old, and likely only has ~3 new OS releases in it.

The M1's NPU TOPS of 11 is really weak, so it wouldn't surprise me if Apple defends dropping the M1 due to AI performance. The A18 Pro is at 35 TOPS, and the A19 Pro is going to be even better.

The M1 Air is just an old machine, and Apple should ship something better (in some ways) at the same price point.

Optimistic. I thought it'll receive one more major macOS release and then they'll drop it.

 

[DavidSchaub]

Optimistic. I thought it'll receive one more major macOS release and then they'll drop it.

Yeah, I considered saying ~2, but I figure Apple will want lot of Apple Silicon good will while selling replacements the last of people's Intel Macs.

I think 2 is more likely than 1, but 3 feels plausible considering how long they kept selling those Walmart M1 MBAs.

 

[Plutonius]

I expect them not to actually be cheap .

 

[beautyहमempty]

There’s zero reason to suspect this will cause other Mac prices to rise. It’ll be no different than the base iPad, or Mac mini, or iPhone 16e, or Apple Watch SE. All of those are Apple’s base products for cheap and none of them have caused them to raise prices on the other products.

Remember pre iPad Air times? The pro cost 799€ here in Germany. Everyone was confused why apple added this strange „air“ tier to the line up and who it was exactly for. Well… the ONLY reason for the iPad Air to exist is to make the iPad Pro more expensive, which, because of that, costs 1449€.

I get the logic of your comment, but saying „none of them have caused them to raise prices on the other products“ is incorrect. In fact, since Apple started to compete against only itself, inventing ever more different tiers for its different product lines is the core principle to make you buy more expensive products.

 

[JPack]

Does anyone have any idea of the maximum amount of memory Apple could hook up to an A18Pro/A19Pro?

At least 16GB because M4/M5 support 32GB (16GB x 2).

 

[jecowa]

Pretty close to mine, though I cut it down more to hit $599 (in half-donkey'd order of likely):
- A18 Pro
- smaller battery
- one external display
- M1's webcam
- 2x 10 Gbps USB-C (or 1x UBS-C + MagSafe)
- headphone jack
- two speakers
- 256GB storage (one chip)
- 12GB RAM
- no Rosetta 2
- no cell modem
- whatever wifi/bt chip is cheaper
- sub-retina screen
- non-backlit keyboard
- plastic case
- no charger in the box

Yeah, I was suspecting an M series processor was required for Rosetta 2.

 

[Madonepro]

Just bring back the 12-inch MacBook. Intel was the main bottleneck. That same form factor would fly with Apple Silicon.

Apple needs to standardise its sizing. 12inch MacBook & MacBook Air, a 14 inch MacBook Pro & MacBook Air, and a 16 inch MacBook Pro. With the MacBook, and MacBook Pro 14 (entry level) with the previous years chips, and the rest with the latest chipset.

 

[MacMikePro]

i think you missed my point. i want to run macos in an ipad but apple wont 'allow' it. now they want to sell a new device when they could just ship software.

Nope I didn't miss your point, you said “it sure sounds like an iPad with a keyboard”. That comment has nothing to do with wanting an iPad to run macOS, that was you saying that this cheaper MacBook sounds like an iPad because it has an A18 Pro chip in it (which makes no sense). The marketing name of the chips is irrelevant, the A18 Pro is perfect for a machine like this. iPads and MacBooks are two different products with two different operating systems, and if all want to do is run macOS in a device and not spend as much money, then this product is perfect for you.

 

[maruyama]

RETVRN

(But with smaller bezels, a lower price, and way better performance)

 

[MacMikePro]

Apple needs to standardise its sizing. 12inch MacBook & MacBook Air, a 14 inch MacBook Pro & MacBook Air, and a 16 inch MacBook Pro. With the MacBook, and MacBook Pro 14 (entry level) with the previous years chips, and the rest with the latest chipset.

If this new MacBook is 12 inches I actually think that makes for a clean lineup

MacBook: 12”
MacBook Air: 13” and 15”
MacBook Pro: 14” and 16”

I think that works pretty perfectly.

 

[erihp]

Nope I didn't miss your point, you said “it sure sounds like an iPad with a keyboard”. That comment has nothing to do with wanting an iPad to run macOS, that was you saying that this cheaper MacBook sounds like an iPad because it has an A18 Pro chip in it (which makes no sense). The marketing name of the chips is irrelevant, the A18 Pro is perfect for a machine like this. iPads and MacBooks are two different products with two different operating systems, and if all want to do is run macOS in a device and not spend as much money, then this product is perfect for you.

still not getting it.

i agree with you. im not knocking the ipad, im saying the hardware is equivalent (and capable) such that the software should be too.

a18 is great. but why it should run macOS and yet an m1/2/3/4 ipad isnt allowed is stupid.

 

[zenmacx]

I call ******** on this. When has Apple ever competed in a race to the bottom pricing competition with Microsoft and Google?

I concur.

It’s hard to imagine that Apple will actually offer this product at a reasonable price.

Witness the entry level iPhone 16e which most agree they priced $100 too high.

Based on the power and influence they wield over their customers and how quick the faithful make excuses for Apple, it’s likely this product will also be overpriced.

 

[JPack]

I call ******** on this. When has Apple ever competed in a race to the bottom pricing competition with Microsoft and Google?

$329 iPad in 2017.

Apple took their $499 iPad Air 2 and cut the price by 1/3.

Guess what $999 MacBook Air cut by 1/3 is? $599-$699.

 

[PowerButton]

So an iPhone with a bigger screen and a keyboard? This will just confuse their product line — an iPad in a laptop shell. 🤦‍♂️

 

[erihp]

So an iPhone with a bigger screen and a keyboard? This will just confuse their product line — an iPad in a laptop shell. 🤦‍♂️

finally someone gets it

 

[Madonepro]

If this new MacBook is 12 inches I actually think that makes for a clean lineup

MacBook: 12”
MacBook Air: 13” and 15”
MacBook Pro: 14” and 16”

I think that works pretty perfectly.

12 and 14 Air, not 13 and 15. Makes Apple unique, and keeps the small one, small, and the bigger one, bigger than the PC rivals in that range.