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New MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Spotted in Apple Code

Apple has a clear way to differentiate the A-series MacBook from the M-series MacBook: by adding cellular connectivity and touch support with Apple Pencil to the A-series. This strategy could attract consumers who prefer Surface or 2-in-1 style devices. Those who don’t need these features can opt for the M-series MacBook instead. In education field, touch feature is very useful.

Summary:

  • M-series MacBook: Wi-Fi only, more powerful, faster
  • A-series MacBook: Cellular + Wi-Fi, touch and Apple Pencil support, less powerful, slower
 
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starlabjump said:
Apple has a clear way to differentiate the A-series MacBook from the M-series MacBook: by adding cellular connectivity and touch support with Apple Pencil to the A-series. This strategy could attract consumers who prefer Surface or 2-in-1 style devices. Those who don’t need these features can opt for the M-series MacBook instead. In education field, touch feature is very useful.

Summary:

  • M-series MacBook: Wi-Fi only, more powerful, faster
  • A-series MacBook: Cellular + Wi-Fi, touch and Apple Pencil support, less powerful, slower
Click to expand...

Why can't power users (M-Series) get Cellular?
 
Sensamic said:
Finally (hopefully) a 5G MacBook 12!
Click to expand...

I am wondering since many years why there is no option for a SIM or now eSIM in any Mac. Is it only for iPad sales? Do those USB modems work with a Mac? I never tried one.

The last time I had one of those USB stick modems where you could put a SIM in was when 4G/LTE didn't even exist yet and I was running Windows 2000.

I could put one into the USB port of my Router now for the case there is a DSL outage, but I don't know if put directly in a Mac's USB port there is even a driver.
 
I have a feeling Apple will price this thing aggressively, they are going to clean up. Watch as macOS goes up 10-15% in OS usage over the next few years.

That aside, it’s honestly a great move. The A18 Pro chip is more than capable enough for a great macOS experience.
 
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A budget laptop would be nice, especially outside of US where the Air is much more expensive (in Sweden right now, lowest price is about 1400 US dollars equivalent for a base Air M4).

The Air M4 is a couple of times more computer than the average Joe actually needs, and the A18 isn't even far behind the M4 in single core performance which for basic use is the most important.

I think I've written this before but I'd really like a laptop with:
A18
12GB RAM (but preferably 16GB)
128GB SSD (but preferably and more likely 256GB)
30-40Wh battery
Basic retina display
Apples really good trackpad and decent keyboard
I wouldn't have anything against a thinner 2006 polycarbonate MacBook chassis, but I don't think Apple will go that way.

Let's be honest, this would be perfect for the vast majority of computer users on planet Earth. Most people don't edit 4K video on the go, have large movie or photo projects which they need storage for, engages in any type of music production or anything like that. Most people have a web browser and might do some light office work occasionally, like writing emails, editing their resumes, and such. And of course, it would suit most students that don't do anything compute intensive. Buy an iPad then! Sure, in some cases that would suffice - but not for me.

This fictional MacBook would handle it without any problem and you would still have that "Apple feel" with the good display and trackpad which won't make you think less of Apple.

With the oncoming bad times, maybe this is the right call? I would still prefer the Air M4 but probably settle with the more budget friendly MacBook - if the prices is right.
 
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GioGiusi said:
Hardware costs have done nothing except go up. The ASP on iPhone was $500 10 years ago. It's over $950 today.

Apple has had every opportunity to introduce true hardware subscriptions, and they haven't. The most they're willing to do is iPhone installments. But a true hardware subscription like the one Ozlosleep is doing, where the fees are purely rental, are indefinite, and do not go toward a purchase of any kind, are really unappealing to users, and not an image Apple is looking to have.
Click to expand...
Okay... well a MacBook was $999 in 2006 and a MacBook Air costs $999 in 2025. So that went WAY down. Mac mini was $499 in 2006, it was at $699 for a while, and is now back down to $599 in 2025. iMac has stayed the same $1299 for a long time.

So, prices actually have come down pretty significantly, adjusted for inflation.
 
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jarman92 said:
This is just a bizarre rumor/product. Estimates are that the M1 costs Apple ~$40/chip, and the A18 costs...~$40/chip. So what's the point?
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Lower power/thermal envelope on the SoC affords them some interesting possibilities. A luxury device like the old 12", with a tight focus on being as thin and light as possible? Less power hungry SoC means you can get away with a smaller battery which means you can put it in a smaller chassis.

Or make a thicker, cheaper, old school white plastic laptop with great battery life and spin it as a Chromebook alternative for large edu clients like school systems

Or maybe they want to change the laptop lineup CPU tiers. Where it's currently M# for Macbook Air; and then Macbook Pro has M#, M# Pro, and M# Max versions. A single CPU option for the Air family, and 3 CPUs for the Pro family. Maybe they want to do Airs with A# (low-end model) and M# (high end model); and keep the Macbook Pro line using either M# Pro or M# Max.

Maybe it's actually nothing but a test or a rejected idea, but there's clearly a few interesting ways it could turn out.
 
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Eric_WVGG said:
I don't get it.

CPUs don't make up a very large line item on the bill of materials (the screen is probably more expensive). And if the point is "cheaper Macbook Air," why not keep selling M2s? Or build out of plastic?

A new 12" Macbook would at least be carving out a new category. (and I would buy one, like, immediately)

((I always thought those old 11" Macbook Airs from the Intel days were ridiculous, but also ridiculously popular))
Click to expand...
I LOVED my 11in Air. took that little sucker everywhere because it was so small I had no excuse NOT to.
 
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farmboy said:
Agreed. Somehow Apple has hundreds of thousands of employees, but Tim Cook is apparently responsible for every decision at every level from chip design, product design, product colors, OS coding and designs, product portfolio, pricing, marketing, and including the height of the mowed grass in the center of Apple Park. These people are just nuts.
Click to expand...
And emojis. Don't forget emojis. Comments here seem to indicate that Cook is so heavily invested in emoji design that he personally pulls top-tier employees from hardware design, chip design, modem design and coding, software development, bug squashing, battery repair, supply chain, screening App Store candidates, and most everything else just so they can work on emojis.
 
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11" iPad Air minimal configuration: M3, 128GB, 8GB RAM, WiFi only with MagicKeyboard - 1.028€

13" iPad Air minimal configuration: M3, 128GB, 8GB RAM, WiFi only with MagicKeyboard - 1.298€

13.3" MacBook Air minimal configuration: M4, 256GB 16GB RAM WiFi, more ports and Magic Keyboard with Touch ID - 1.199€

Maybe they make the MacBook Air almost bezel-less that it could have the same footprint as the 12" had, by keeping almost the same screen size 13" instead of 13.3". But would such a MacBook really be cheaper just because it has an M4-like iPhone Chip in there? Maybe only because it's outdated by the M5 Air by then.
 
ultratiem said:
Thank you. Some one actually remembers real facts and not the reality distortion around Jobs.
Click to expand...
It was a version of the truth. It was important for both users and investors alike to believe in the iPhone, and it being based on OS X went a long way toward convincing everyone that ARM-based silicon had a future. Apple came out of the gate having already done A LOT, and that was impressive.
 
One thing to keep in mind is the old MacBook airs are cheaper and targets education market. I have af feeling this won't disrupt that strategy by undercutting those laptops on pricing too much. So anything below like $700 I'm doubtful.
 
starlabjump said:
Apple has a clear way to differentiate the A-series MacBook from the M-series MacBook: by adding cellular connectivity and touch support with Apple Pencil to the A-series. This strategy could attract consumers who prefer Surface or 2-in-1 style devices. Those who don’t need these features can opt for the M-series MacBook instead. In education field, touch feature is very useful.

Summary:

  • M-series MacBook: Wi-Fi only, more powerful, faster
  • A-series MacBook: Cellular + Wi-Fi, touch and Apple Pencil support, less powerful, slower
Click to expand...
that makes absolutely no sense.
if any MacBook will get cellular first, it will be the MacBook Pro.
Pro customers are the most likely to utilize it, pro customers are the most likely to pay the $200 or whatever to upgrade to it, and the MacBook Pro has the biggest battery and thermal envelope of them all so adding a cellular modem should impact its battery leased.
 
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jarman92 said:
This is just a bizarre rumor/product. Estimates are that the M1 costs Apple ~$40/chip, and the A18 costs...~$40/chip. So what's the point?
Click to expand...
Apple is running out of "courage" and ideas so this is what they roll with.
 
jarman92 said:
This is just a bizarre rumor/product. Estimates are that the M1 costs Apple ~$40/chip, and the A18 costs...~$40/chip. So what's the point?
Click to expand...
The point is that the M1 is almost five years old and at some point Apple has to EOL them in order to sell new computers. As long as the Air M1 is sold (even through Walmart), the whole Apple Silicon line up has to be kept alive and very few people will upgrade.

With a new budget MacBook Apple could finally discontinue the M1 altogether and in just a few years it won’t get the latest os.
 
Have read none of the comments - however the way this portable is differentiated and cheaper without cannibalising MacBook Air is simply because it runs iPad OS with a non-detachable display. Building a 'laptop' around iPad technology without the weight needing to be in the display makes it far more portable, and this is why they've added proper windowing and and pull down menus to iPad OS 26.
With A18 Pro, it'll do what casual users need, but it's not a Final Cut or Xcode machine. The Mac is safe. Some will see this as aimed at the Chromebook market, but Apple won't price it there, somewhere in between. Still fascinating though. I'll buy one.

EDIT: forgot to add - current plans are for it to use the old 'iBook' brand, which is fitting I think.
 
This product is so unnecessary. The Apple sycophants on X are drooling over this rumor:

1751336225896.png
 
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starlabjump said:
Apple has a clear way to differentiate the A-series MacBook from the M-series MacBook: by adding cellular connectivity and touch support with Apple Pencil to the A-series. This strategy could attract consumers who prefer Surface or 2-in-1 style devices. Those who don’t need these features can opt for the M-series MacBook instead. In education field, touch feature is very useful.

Summary:

  • M-series MacBook: Wi-Fi only, more powerful, faster
  • A-series MacBook: Cellular + Wi-Fi, touch and Apple Pencil support, less powerful, slower
Click to expand...
What? Why would they give the cheaper laptop better features? Lol, it should be the other way around with the M series being more powerful AND also having cellular and touch
 
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