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

[Dotty...]

I would like to think this machine would come in at the price quoted in the article, but like others I can't really see that happening, it would only cannibalise the iPad section, also if it has a A18 iPhone chip with of 8GB RAM, how slow would that make it? I've read that it would be slower than an M1 which came out in 2020. Also don't iPhone and iPad chips currently, only last a total of 5 years with full support of upgrades to the next operating system.

So far for those changing from their old Intel MacBooks or for those looking for a new one, I'm advising they don't wait for this and buy the latest M4 MacBookAir, which can be picked up with 16GB RAM, for about 850 quid in the UK, with a total lifespan of 8 years.

 

[Techwatcher]

$499 would be a far better price and would hit the Chromebook market pretty hard. $599 is still up there for a lot of people that are simply looking for a no-frills budget laptop. When is Apple going to learn?

 

[dodo26]

Apple's rumored new more affordable MacBook could have a starting price as low as $599 and launch as soon as this year, according to a new report out of Asia.

We first learned of Apple's low-cost MacBook plans in late June, when analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the company was developing a "more affordable" 13-inch laptop (the analyst did not mention a price) that would with compete with Chromebooks and drive MacBook purchases.

Kuo said the new MacBook is set to use an A18 Pro chip, which debuted in the iPhone 16 Pro last year. That would make it the first Mac powered by an iPhone chip. So far, all Apple silicon Macs have used M-series chips, which feature more cores, greater memory capacity, and improved external display support.

The analyst said he expected the model to enter mass production late in the fourth quarter of 2025 or early in the first quarter of 2026. Today, DigiTimes has independently corroborated Kuo's prediction and suggested that the MacBook will start between $599 and $699. The current 13-inch MacBook Air starts at $999 in the U.S. (or $899 under Apple's student discount).

Today's report adds that the laptop will have a 12.9-inch display, making it slightly smaller than the MacBook Air's 13.6-inch screen. DigiTimes reports that some components are expected to enter mass production by the end of the third quarter of 2025 – a schedule that could see full system assembly begin before the end of the year.

Final assembly is expected to take place at Quanta's facilities in the fourth quarter, with the laptop becoming commercially available in late 2025 or early 2026, similar to Kuo's launch estimation.

According to market projections, annual shipments of the low-cost MacBook could reach between 5 million and 7 million units, potentially boosting Apple's total MacBook volume from the current 17 million to 18 million units by 30% to 40%.

Kuo believes the more-affordable MacBook will feature an ultra-thin, lightweight design and could come in Silver, Blue, Pink, and Yellow finishes.

One thing to bear in mind is that the A18 Pro chip lacks Thunderbolt support, so the new MacBook would likely be equipped with regular USB-C ports. But that's unlikely to be a deal-breaker for customers seeking the most affordable Mac they can get their hands on. Would you be interested in such a laptop? Let us know in the comments.

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

Apple’s lineup has become overly complex—what it really needs is fresh leadership and a clearer vision. They should simplify things. Keeping multiple versions of laptops and iPads that all use similar tech makes no sense anymore.

I’ve already moved on from the iPad—I only use my iPhone and MacBook Pro now. Even having both the entry-level ‘Pro’ and the Air variants doesn’t make sense anymore.

What we need isn’t another incremental update. Apple should introduce something truly new—not just another iteration of an existing product.

 

[Neil J. Squillante]

Here’s a prediction. If it really is priced like that, then it’s a new Mac strategy whose point is to significantly increase the installed user base in order to sell more services, which are already an important part of Apple’s overall sales (more than Mac sales, if I recall correctly).

In that case, this will have Chromebook like features, notably, not much storage space. So the above hopes of 256 GB will not materialise. Rather, it’ll be 128 GB and rely on iCloud subscriptions for (a) file storage, and (b) much of Apple’s usual profit margin.

I agree on the strategy but disagree that Apple will revert to lower memory or storage in light of Apple wanting to encourage app downloads and support Apple Intelligence. Three iPad lines manage to coexist. There’s a market for people like me who want a cheap second Mac and a much larger market of people who buy $500 Windows laptops who would prefer a Mac but cannot spring for the MacBook Air even at discounted prices. I suspect the MacBook Air cannibalizes more MacBook Pro sales than this would cannibalize the MacBook Air.

 

[Biro]

Could be an iPad with a built-in keyboard

That’s exactly how I view it and $599 is EXACTLY the price I had in mind. I would pick up one of these as soon as they hit the shelves. If it’s a bit thinner and lighter than the current base MacBook Air, even better.

 

[AdrianCobon]

Oh how I miss my old 11-inch MacBook Air... Though I am glued to my desk a 55" 4K TV with a 27" 4K monitor in portrait orientation off to the side nowadays... I might be tempted to grab one for those rare in-person client meetings and for weekend getaways that seems to always needing me to look over client documents after dinner.

 

[poematik13]

the vast majority of users never use thunderbolt or even know what it is, and 99% of their usage is google chrome and MS outlook.

This is for them. This is the boomer mac.

 

[Jacquesass]

So it’s like a cross between an iPad and a MacBook?

They should call it the “iBook”.

 

[Biro]

Could be a great laptop for a very large number of people - people who want a "proper" laptop for web browsing, e-mails, office-type documents whilst being able to stream video/music in the background and manage their files. Playing games, rendering video or batch editing photos are alien topics to these people - perhaps they would do some light photo editing, but likely using Apple Photos rather than Photoshop. An A18 would easily give enough horsepower for those kinds of tasks.

It does raise the questions though, how does Apple not loose revenue & margin compared to selling these people a MBA? Recycling the iPhone chip (with 8 GB Ram), likely an iPad Air 12.9" screen (with reduced brightness?), only 1 USB-C port with no thunderbolt that can only drive 1 display, lower quality speakers, slower SSD (or single chip storage like the M2 MBA)...

With the size of MacOS these days, surely it has to be 256 GB storage?

You are assuming that Apple can sell a base MBA to anyone who would otherwise buy this device. I believe Apple intends the vast majority of sales for this A18 MacBook to be conquest sales - people using Chromebooks and the like. Meanwhile, someone like me would buy one of these in addition to my other Mac gear - simply because the Magic Keyboards are a little wonky and heavy on iPads.

 

[Zdigital2015]

I am a little more optimistic that @turbineseaplane about what Apple may give us with an A18 MacBook*, but I caution everyone to temper their expectations. This is as much a nod to cost economies and second Macs for current owners who don’t want to cough up for even an only 13” MBA as it is to entice cost sensitive customers. Be careful and realistic with the over/under on this Mac. I’m looking forward to seeing this in the real world, but I’m 50/50 on the buy part.

I just started a new job and my 2015 15” MBP with Sequoia on OCLP and a new 1TB OWC SSD is doing remarkably well considering it’s a 10 year old battery and CPU with an iGPU. I put my plan to buy something newer on hold until I see a real need.

 

[ThailandToo]

I am still rocking my 12 inch Macbook. There is just something about a super light device that runs full MacOS that goes everywhere with you without weight. With that price tag? Instabuy.

I wish this MacBook used that case with a better display in it.

 

[eqquito]

This form factor will be so popular. I wish they gave the option to select the form factor when buying a macbook air in the online store.

 

[3xBoom]

This broke my Monday brain:

"According to market projections, annual shipments of the low-cost MacBook could reach between 5 million and 7 million units, potentially boosting Apple's total MacBook volume from the current 17 million to 18 million units by 30% to 40%."

 

[tomtad]

$499 would be a far better price and would hit the Chromebook market pretty hard. $599 is still up there for a lot of people that are simply looking for a no-frills budget laptop. When is Apple going to learn?

Base iPad + Keyboard = $578
Rumoured Base Macbook = $599

iPad Air + Keyboard = $868
MacBook Air = $999


There's your answer.

 

[picpicmac]

So it’s like a cross between an iPad and a MacBook?

They should call it the “iBook”.

Hah. Remembering the original laptop Macs....

Anyway, of course it's an iPad with a permanently attached keyboard.

That's why iPad OS is now more Mac-like.

The big question is whether this new device will have a touch screen or not.

 

[TaosGuy]

I feel like the branding is important. For example, if they modified the iPhone chip and called it something like the M4e or Me chip then you would have less hesitation with customers thinking they’re just getting a phone instead of a laptop. Even if this iPhone chip is faster, I think it needs to be called something else.

 

[rappr]

I’ve never seen a rumored low cost Apple product ever release at its rumored price point. So if the rumors say $599, it’s more likely to be $799 or $899.

 

[Bazza1]

They'd also need to ensure that manufacturers of software and peripherals would be onboard with using a processor normally found in an iPhone. Those seeking - by necessity or choice - an inexpensive Mac, but find that they have to put up with, say, the iPad version of Microsoft Office (or even iWork) and / or find there's no drivers for their printers / scanners - will look elsewhere for a laptop.

 

[ignatius345]

The trick is to make it compelling enough, but limited enough, that spending $200-300 more suddenly seems cost-savvy.

Introduced at $699, but for “only” $200 more, you get 16GB RAM, and 256GB SSD. And only for another $100, you can get the “much better” MBA.

You’ll pay $1000 bucks buying a $700 laptop and convince yourself you’re being a savvy customer. 😂

You're not considering the form factor. The MacBook Air itself started off as the thinnest laptop Apple had ever made, with SJ sliding it out an an envelope and everything. It had pretty bad specs, even for the era, and was ungodly expensive to boot. People still bought it, and it evolved into a massive success.

 

[Galas]

Could be an iPad with a built-in keyboard

Yeah, at this price point it really does seem 'too good to be true'

I could really see it running iPadOS to give it the compromise needed to upsell users to a MacBook Air.

I still truly believe iPadOS will eventually be able to run macOS apps (only purchasable via the Mac App Store - not downloaded off the internet) and this might be the surprise hardware to debut it.

I wouldn't be surprised if this turned out to be an iPadOS device, aimed to compete with Chromebooks. This would clearly distinguish it from the MacBook Air line and still allow Apple to tackle a new market segment.

It won't run iPad OS. There are plenty of iPads + keyboard combinations to choose from, and this one is not one of those.

There are people that wants or needs a very small and light device, with a FULL FLEDGED DESKTOP OS.
I do DevOps, and an iPad is way too cumbersome to use for my workflow. And I'm absolutely certain I'm not the only one.

 

[Sowelu]

If this is going to be an impossibly thin and light little MacBook that runs macOS, and at this price, I am buying a couple to throw around the house (and of course to grab while on the go). Assuming that the lowest priced machine will include 8GB+128GB, I hope there is a stepped up configuration with 16+256, or a BTO option. Personally, I would happily pay more for a higher-end model with built in 5G.

 

[Plerf]

You're not considering the form factor. The MacBook Air itself started off as the thinnest laptop Apple had ever made, with SJ sliding it out an an envelope and everything. It had pretty bad specs, even for the era, and was ungodly expensive to boot. People still bought it, and it evolved into a massive success.

With due respect, Apple laptops are all now thin and light (more or less). Switching from Air to Pro is mostly an exercise in capabilities and qualities, not form factor.

I expect this laptop to be about the same. Maybe marginally thinner and lighter, but we’re definitely low on mm to shave off right now.

 

[Saturn1217]

For $599, even if entry level storage was crap (128gb), I would be tempted to buy this as a portable writing machine. Especially if it is also smaller than the current 13" Macbook Air.

At $599 this is a very good companion to a traditional Macbook Pro. I'm actually kind of excited about this.

 

[jz0309]

Still struggling to see the biz reason for Apple to compete at the low end ...
But illl wait and see if/when this gets released what Apple will have to say...

 

[victorvictoria]

Not at $599, but the product doesn’t make sense without cellular (Apple C1) as an option.

It’s surprising you and I are the only two people so far to mention this. It will set off intense speculation about M5 Air and Pro.

Well, it may have the A18 chip…