New 12.9-Inch MacBook Could Launch This Year Starting at $599

[Moreplease]

When Apple switched from Intel to its Apple Silicon processors with lower power consumption and heat dissipation I expected an ultra thin Mac to be announced. So the only remarkable thing is that it took so long.

I agree.

It was baffling that Apple Silicon Macs with all their power efficiency weighed more than the Intel MacBook Airs.

I have an M3 MacBook Pro and it’s a fat, heavy thing. It’s not even two years old and it looks seriously old-fashioned sitting on a desk.

 

[cjsuk]

Sounds like a big junk failure. Apple can use a current nm process M1 chip or M2. Junk.

Lets wait for the numbers.

This could have even more crazy battery life and 2021 performance which could be a winning combo.

 

[mk313]

If these specs are close to accurate, this will be my first apple day one purchase since the iPhone 4S. This laptop sounds like the closest w are likely to come to another 12" MacBook & I will gladly take it.

 

[mk313]

perhaps you and your use case arent the target market for this device then.

i have 10 year old Macbook Airs that have that spec and work well.
The person I gave one to just does simple writing tasks.
He loves it.
I even set his Word documents to open in Pages and he adapted really quickly to it.
And no subscription fees each year.

The way he adapted so readily as a non-tech user made me rethink my Office 365 subscription.
I'm letting it lapse this year and see how I go with Apple apps to open anything people send me.
Or use OpenOffice as a fallback.

I had a year in a recent job using corporate calendar and newsletter DOC templates.
Even with the same installed fonts on Mac and PC the file opened and formatted differently enough to be painful.
Most of us never needed anything more than what Office 97 did. 🙂
Throwing in CoPilot and upping my sub fee without asking was the final nail.

Microsoft sells a version of Office Mac that doesn't require a subscription. Every now & then it goes on sale. I bought my copy of Office 2021 for $29 or $39. Would love to use iWorks apps, butExcel is just so much more feature rich (for my needs). But I also don't want to pay a monthly fee to use software.

 

[Dirk Pieters]

I’m in the market for something light/portable/functional. I do software and sometimes it’s nice to have a device with me to write down notes, thoughts, todo’s for things I’m working on.

I’ve been considering an iPad mini with a Moft folio as I have a spare Magic Keyboard lying around. But this sounds nice too. I’m hoping for something small (smaller than 13”) that is very limited in the capabilities department. Let it run Pages and Numbers, don’t really care if it’s macOS or iPadOS as iCloud syncs anyway.

If the screen is 13 inches then I might as well take my 13” Air.

 

[okkibs]

Maybe it’s a way to increase the price of the Air.

That certainly seems possible. At least for the users on this forum this won't work as we know to instead get a discounted M4 Air and call it a day for a good long while. In a couple years from now when you can't find M4 models on the shelves anymore we will of course all pay the higher prices eventually if Apple does end up raising them.

 

[pjpetrozelli]

Am I the only one who doesn't see how this makes any sense?

In a time when you can buy an M2 Macbook for $699 which, though old, still has substantially better multicore benchmarks.

I would bet money that this flops harder, and takes less market share, than the iPhone Mini did. Unless, the iPad lineup is paired back.

 

[wbeasley]

Microsoft sells a version of Office Mac that doesn't require a subscription. Every now & then it goes on sale. I bought my copy of Office 2021 for $29 or $39. Would love to use iWorks apps, butExcel is just so much more feature rich (for my needs). But I also don't want to pay a monthly fee to use software.

yeah i've seen those Office 2021 deals too.
Always a good fallback as I cant open something but I dont get enough use of Office (retired now) to justify a yearly spend.

 

[wbeasley]

Am I the only one who doesn't see how this makes any sense?

In a time when you can buy an M2 Macbook for $699 which, though old, still has substantially better multicore benchmarks.

I would bet money that this flops harder, and takes less market share, than the iPhone Mini did. Unless, the iPad lineup is paired back.

it will be aimed at the group who want to save $100.
probably the majority of non tech users really.
they dont need full fat fast machines.
smaller, lighter, long battery life and cheaper suits their needs perfectly.

 

[BeatCrazy]

I’ll bet money this will have Apple’s C1 modem in it and be the first MacBook with cellular. They’re going to need to sell these somehow so it will literally be an iPhone 16 SE internally if it has a A18 and 8gb ram.

I'll take that bet.

Cellular Macs can/will deserve a premium, like Apple does today with iPads. People buying $2K laptops will pay an extra $20/month for a cellular plan, mainly so they can use it for work productivity.

They're not going to waste the effort and chip resources to put cellular in a $599 laptop (specifically aimed at the lowest-end of the laptop market) with will lead to an activation rate of 0.00001%

 

[darngooddesign]

But this is another 13" device. If Apple put this chip in a 12" Macbook (without the serial defects this time) then it would be a great offering. But the 13" Macbook Air is already as compact as it gets for the screen size. We have seen what happened last time Apple tried to make the Macbooks thinner and lighter and that was the disaster known as the butterfly keyboard generation.

The 12" MacBook was the first laptop with the butterfly keyboard. So in a 12" laptop it was great, but in a 13" laptop it was a disaster?

 

[tenthousandthings]

$599 = Mac17,1 :: A18 Pro 8/256 MacBook WiFi
$799 = Mac17,2 :: A18 Pro 8/256 MacBook WiFi + Cellular (C1)

Top end configurations will be 16/512 at $999/$1199.

M5 MacBook Air (and Pro) will get a cellular option in early 2026:

$999 = M5 16/512 MacBook Air 13" WiFi
$1199 = M5 16/512 MacBook Air 13" WiFi + Cellular (C2)

 

[theluggage]

What exactly would it be used for? To serve as a modern netbook? Isn't that what people use non-pro iPads with a keyboard case for?

Any kind of MacBook for $600 would destroy sales of M4 MacBook Airs (and actually a lot of MacBook Pro sales too, not to mention Mac mini sales).

It's all rumour, but it sounds like it is a replacement for the MacBook Air M1 that is still being sold new for $599 in the US from large chain stores. Wouldn't be surprised if it is only sold via places like Walmart or to education customers.

Apple MacBook Air 13.3 inch Laptop - Silver, M1 Chip, Built for Apple Intelligence, 8GB RAM, 256GB storage - Walmart.com

Buy Apple MacBook Air 13.3 inch Laptop - Silver, M1 Chip, Built for Apple Intelligence, 8GB RAM, 256GB storage at Walmart.com

www.walmart.com

...which (a) lots of people clearly still have a use for and (b) doesn't seem to have killed sales of the M4 Air. In any case, Apple will still make nice comfy margins on selling this for $600.

What will kill sales of the M4 Air is people who need a basic laptop for browsing, email, writing, media consumption etc. - which can be done perfectly well with a $300 Windows lapytop or Chromebook - tightening their belts and not wanting to pay $1000 for a M4 Air which is massive overkill for those applications.

It would be nice to think that this will be accompanied by the end of stupidly small SSDs and silly priced RAM upgrades on the M4 machines to help distinguish them.

 

[sracer]

An ‘8/256’ Mac at any price is a ‘No’ for me.

I can understand that. Many feel the same way. I don't want to convince you (or them) that you should feel differently.

But for those who are on the fence and intrigued by this potential Macbook, I offer my first-hand experiences...

Back in March 2024 I bought an 8GB/256GB M1 MBA at Costco for $650. It has been a great little workhorse to complement my 8GB/256GB M2 Mac Mini.

I use my Mac Mini for office productivity, audio editing, video editing and encoding, imaged editing, run Win11 in a VM. Host my Plex server and 6 "live" streaming channels, and much more. Some of those things simultaneously. This little guy handles the tasks without breaking a sweat.

When I detach the dock from my Mac Mini and connect it to my MBA, I can do all of those things. It's a little slower (relative to the M2), but that MBA does work with "acceptable" performance.

If this new Macbook is as capable as the M1 MBA, and it starts with an MSRP of $599, it's going to be a great value for those who can use it. But then again, I'm an oddball who actually prefers the base iPad over the Air and Pro... so there's that. 😂

 

[pjpetrozelli]

it will be aimed at the group who want to save $100.
probably the majority of non tech users really.
they dont need full fat fast machines.
smaller, lighter, long battery life and cheaper suits their needs perfectly.

That "group" already has an abundant supply of new and refurbished M1 and M2 Macbooks and Macbook Air across multiple retailers not to mention used market. These are not even on sort of holiday / black Friday pricing and are still 449 - 500.

 

[DocMultimedia]

Has this rumored product with a rumored release date been delayed yet?

It seems like a good first computer for kids.

 

[okkibs]

The 12" MacBook was the first laptop with the butterfly keyboard. So in a 12" laptop it was great, but in a 13" laptop it was a disaster?

In the text that you quoted I specifically stated a 12" Macbook with Apple Silicon but without the serial defects would be great.

 

[theluggage]

Am I the only one who doesn't see how this makes any sense?

It makes perfect sense if you want to buy a new MacBook for basic browsing/email/writing/spreadsheets/media consumption.

In a time when you can buy an M2 Macbook for $699 which, though old, still has substantially better multicore benchmarks.

If you're concerned with multicore benchmarks, this is not for you.

This will be sold as brand new to people who are heading to Walmart to buy a new Mac - of course you will be able to get "better" deals by seeking out refurb or surplus stock of 'better' Mac models, but after 6 months the same will be true of these A18 MacBooks.

 

[theluggage]

Has this rumored product with a rumored release date been delayed yet?

Looks like the "Unannounced rumoured product launch has been delayed" rumour has been delayed.

 

[sparkie7]

Make it a 13" MacBook Pro and I'll buy it

 

[theluggage]

The 12" MacBook was the first laptop with the butterfly keyboard. So in a 12" laptop it was great, but in a 13" laptop it was a disaster?

Nah, it was bad on the 12" MB, too, but it was a new product line so you could pop into a store, press a few keys, say "ugh!" and go buy an Air instead. The butterfly MBPs came when a bunch of people were desperate to upgrade their outdated MBPs.

 

[Quackington]

I hear you.
I love the old 11" Macbook Air. Really easy to travel with.
But the bezels are huge and you could probably fit a 12.9" in the same body. And higher res screen.

Ah yes, that’s a point. However if it’s gonna be low cost, I don’t expect Apple would give us a super thin bezel.

 

[Kiwamu]

Currently I'm using an M1 Air with a (logitech) keyboard attachment for my travel needs. A dedicated "cheap" MacBook can be a side companion or something, if I don't just want to consume media.

While I like my iPad for quick studys and the like, I see the "App" pitfalls in contrast to a more dedicated laptop, but if I want to go the M4 route, I don't want to settle for a cheaper configuration, which in the end kills any excitement I would have.

If it would be closer to M1, I don't need all the frills and some upgrades will keep it at a "saner" pricepoint for me.

Give them spicy colors like the current base iPad or muted like the iPad Air and you will probably have good devices that people want to take to school with. Now people will have more choice. A stylus / hand driven device for note taking, or those that prefer a keyboard. Heck I can see people taking an iPad (Air) to school and using this Mac for "stationary" study and taking it on the go for more "serious" learning. This will also sell more icloud accounts, as now your storage moves this way better between those devices.

Just make an appropriate demo...

Now I know some families might have to choose between option A or B, but they still would have now options within the family, even on a tight budget.

 

[tothbalazs]

I would love to be wrong but I do not believe one second that the company that charges desktop wheels and monitor stands for close to $1k and still continue to charge atrociously expansive upgrade on RAM / Storage on macbooks will canibalize its MBAs which sell pretty well with someing lower end at 599. 599 is just too competitive, Timmy wants a juicy margin. 799 maybe but 599 is copium
Once again I would love to be wrong but you don't become a trillion dollar company by canibalizing your product line.

Those are very different customers. $599 is the volume market with long tail income opportunities (some dollars of profit x 100s of apps x 100s of millions of users), while the 1k monitor stand is in the professional market where you just want things to surely work under extreme load, without hiccups, but 100x fewer customer are willing to buy.

 

[Velli]

I find it astounding that a MacBook is going to be cheaper than an iPhone.

Smaller =\= cheaper. iPhone has lots of expensive things a MacBook doesn’t.