What to Expect From Apple's Rumored New MacBook With A18 Pro Chip

[crsh1976]

Yeah I don't mean to be insulting but you reeeaallly don't know what you're talking about, and I mean that genuinely, like you are just very unfamiliar with how things work.

"an Axx processor with limited resources"
Right now the current iPhone Pros use the A18 Pro chip, but in a few months the iPhone 17 will be introduced with a new chip meaning Apple won't need the A18 Pro chip for the iPhone 16 line anymore. The iPhone is, by a huge margin, Apple's most popular product. So it'll be much much cheaper for Apple to continue using the manufacturing lines of the A18 Pro for a new device such as this. Eventually it'll get more expensive for Apple to continue manufacturing old M1 and M2 chips etc because those are made on an older process, the A18 Pro is manufactured using the same current process as the M4, plus the A18 Pro is a smaller die compared to the M4, which will make it cheaper. From every angle Apple using the A18 Pro is the smartest choice, it's cheaper and easier to manufacture, and has the single core performance of their current lineup, which is the most important for a device like this, and be much easier to continue giving software support to. The M4 is already overkill for the vast majority of MacBook Air buyers, and a MacBook with an A18 Pro will also be overkill but much closer to majority of user's needs while saving them money.

"easier and cheaper for Apple to put out an iPad in a notebook form factor"
This again makes absolutely no sense. What exactly is an iPad in a notebook form factor? An iPad with a Magic Keyboard? (which already exists) Or literally a laptop, so a keyboard and trackpad permanently attached to a display, but you're saying that display has a touch screen and runs iPadOS? Again that just makes no sense and I have no idea where you're trying to go with that. Why on earth would anyone want a device like that? Apple is not that stupid and it goes against their entire philosophy of what makes an iPad and iPad and a Mac a Mac. Plus how do you figure that would be "much cheaper for Apple"? If anything that would be more expensive for Apple.

"sounds like a big R&D bill for an entry-level product"
This is exactly why I said this new MacBook will either use the 12" MacBook chassis or the M1 MacBook Air chassis, or something extremely similar to either. Because all the R&D is already done. Apple designed and released the 12" MacBook 10 years ago, and the previous MacBook Air design 8 years ago. These are old designs and Apple using an old design will save them a ton of money because they don't need to spend a lot in R&D, which will allow them to price this MacBook super cheap.

Everything about this rumored device makes perfect sense, in every single way it'll be super cheap and easy for Apple to produce and give them a way to get a MacBook to people for much cheaper than they could have before. It'll be just like how they're currently selling the M1 MBA through Walmart for $650 but they'll sell this one themselves directly and discontinue the M1 MBA entirely.

Ok, anything is possible.

It doesn’t sound you’re familiar with R&D, tho. ROI on a low-end device isn’t an easy feat, Apple typically doesn’t do low-end because they don’t skip on quality - hence $3.5k headsets that don’t sell. It’s a tough sell on both ends of the spectrum.

 

[MacMikePro]

Ok, anything is possible.

It doesn’t sound you’re familiar with R&D, tho. ROI on a low-end device isn’t an easy feat, Apple typically doesn’t do low-end because they don’t skip on quality - hence $3.5k headsets that don’t sell. It’s a tough sell on both ends of the spectrum.

The $349 iPad and the $599 iPhone 16e and the $249 Apple Watch SE and the $599 Mac mini and the $649 M1 MacBook Air would all disagree. Apple is now in a very good position to make low-end cheaper products that are still very high in quality because they've brought so much of their components in house. This new MacBook would be exactly like those devices in their respective lineup, but now in the laptop lineup. Tim Cook clearly loves his 3-tier approach to every product lineup, so it would almost be weird for Apple NOT to make and sell this device.

 

[Icelus]

What would a cheap, Apple A18-powered MacBook actually be good at?

Op-ed: A Mac with an iPhone chip inside could be great—for the right audience.

arstechnica.com

 

[crsh1976]

The $349 iPad and the $599 iPhone 16e and the $249 Apple Watch SE and the $599 Mac mini and the $649 M1 MacBook Air would all disagree. Apple is now in a very good position to make low-end cheaper products that are still very high in quality because they've brought so much of their components in house. This new MacBook would be exactly like those devices in their respective lineup, but now in the laptop lineup. Tim Cook clearly loves his 3-tier approach to every product lineup, so it would almost be weird for Apple NOT to make and sell this device.

None of these required R&D, Apple recycled tech and designs to introduce “new” entry-level products (save for the M4 Mac mini, which is entirely new).

 

[Happy_John]

None of these required R&D, Apple recycled tech and designs to introduce “new” entry-level products (save for the M4 Mac mini, which is entirely new).

This. Apple only make a completely new product very very rarely. Look at the initial move to the M1 chips from intel - essentially the put the new board into the last-gen intel machine apart from the iMac). It took them 5 years to remove all the “legacy” design and components of the Mac mini.

When Apple do release a rely “new” product, like the VisionPro, it’s a safe bet that a huge amount if the R&D is with one eye on applying that R&D to as many other products as possible. As a consumer device, Vision Pro didn’t sell a hell of a lot of units, but this he bigger picture is that has a lot of completed R&D that can be applied to other product lines.

Apple are quite experienced in repurposing existing components and design. With the oringsl iPod (and MBA) it was a case that “we can have tiny HDDs”, now what can we do with them?”

This new MacBook is exactly the same logic. We already have the R&D, we already have the comments, what can we do with them?”

 

[jimimac71]

If the iPad Air and the keyboard had a total cost of $599 you would have a good argument.

I would probably want the latest iPad. Don't need more.
Then a keyboard makes sense.
My old iPad 7 is not capable of getting iPad OS 26.
The new OS looks way too cool.
Vision issues are pushing me to iPad over Android.

 

[MacMikePro]

None of these required R&D, Apple recycled tech and designs to introduce “new” entry-level products (save for the M4 Mac mini, which is entirely new).

That's exactly my point that I keep saying over and over, so you're just proving my point. All of the R&D is done and recouped with both the 12" MacBook and the M1 MacBook Air. The 12" MacBook design is a decade old, it would be very cheap for Apple to take that 10 year old design and put an A18 Pro chip in it and sell it for super cheap. They're already doing it right now today with the $649 MBA Walmart deal, it's literally no difference.

 

[Happy_John]

That's exactly my point that I keep saying over and over, so you're just proving my point. All of the R&D is done and recouped with both the 12" MacBook and the M1 MacBook Air. The 12" MacBook design is a decade old, it would be very cheap for Apple to take that 10 year old design and put an A18 Pro chip in it and sell it for super cheap. They're already doing it right now today with the $649 MBA Walmart deal, it's literally no difference.

Except it's been a long time since 12" MacBook cases have been made, but that's not the case for the MBA case. The production line for the 12" MacBook case will more than likely be long gone. It would take more effort/resources to bring it back from the dead. So the two cases are not equal options.

 

[crsh1976]

That's exactly my point that I keep saying over and over, so you're just proving my point. All of the R&D is done and recouped with both the 12" MacBook and the M1 MacBook Air. The 12" MacBook design is a decade old, it would be very cheap for Apple to take that 10 year old design and put an A18 Pro chip in it and sell it for super cheap. They're already doing it right now today with the $649 MBA Walmart deal, it's literally no difference.

Axx chips have not run macOS in a commercialized product yet, nor have they been used in a notebook before.

It seems like you have no concept of product development stages and how business requirements work.

Slapping a new chip type in an previous form factor with some sort of operating system, let alone deal with memory and storage limitations for an OS other than the typical iPadOS-like we have used Axx chips with so far doesn’t just happen by magic, nor does it make it a quick and cheap endeavour.

 

[dgdosen]

In terms of price, I'd expect $749 with edu at $679. This would be consistent with MacBook Air 13/15-inch stack pricing.

I'd expect 8GB and 16GB memory options, just because it helps Apple so much in terms of margins.

Using the 2018-2020 MBA chassis will save in dev costs. Apple saves money compared to M1 because they need a smaller heatsink, fewer voltage regulators, and smaller battery.

Honestly, I suspect a large portion of MacBook Air customers could switch to this low-cost MacBook without even noticing any difference.

I like 599/749 with the base at 16GB (the new minimum) and the only difference being 256/512 SSD

Then they can knock off 100 for education sales and schools can buy a sub $500 laptop.

 

[MacMikePro]

Axx chips have not run macOS in a commercialized product yet, nor have they been used in a notebook before.

It seems like you have no concept of product development stages and how business requirements work.

Slapping a new chip type in an previous form factor with some sort of operating system, let alone deal with memory and storage limitations for an OS other than the typical iPadOS-like we have used Axx chips with so far doesn’t just happen by magic, nor does it make it a quick and cheap endeavour.

What in the world are you talking about? I feel like you just keep pulling random nonsense out in every comment that means nothing instead of making an actual point. Going by your logic Apple would never be able to create a product ever. Apple would obviously have to do some work to bring anything to market, but it's work that Apple can do and has done time and time again. There's not some huge difference between A chips and M chips, just because they use a different letter for marketing doesn't mean it's not all the same family. Apple CAN and WILL do many things, and that includes putting macOS on an A chip which, contrary to your belief, is not "magic" it's just some work lol.

 

[MacMikePro]

Except it's been a long time since 12" MacBook cases have been made, but that's not the case for the MBA case. The production line for the 12" MacBook case will more than likely be long gone. It would take more effort/resources to bring it back from the dead. So the two cases are not equal options.

Rumors started in 2012 that Apple was working on using their own in house silicon for their Macs, most likely work started on that much earlier. It was in the middle of the 12" MacBook's life that stories started circulating of how annoyed Apple was with Intel and their chips. Apple discontinued the 12" MacBook in 2019 and one year later officially announced the Apple silicon transition. I say all of that to bring up that Apple 100% definitely knew at that time that the 12" MacBook would work much better using their own chips and Apple is gonna plan their release strategy years and years in advance. So I'm saying it's possible that 5 years ago Apple knew that they were gonna put the MacBook on hiatus and if they planned to bring it back they would've absolutely planned for that. It's not unfathomable that Apple planned to replace the M1 MBA with this A series 12" MacBook and prepared everything for that well in advance. Now if I was placing a bet on it, I still think Apple will recycle the 13" MBA chassis for this low cost MacBook, but what I would prefer is definitely that Apple brings the 12" back, it's just so much more enjoyable to use over the 13" chassis, it's super thin and lighter, and I love it. So while I personally think it's not as likely, it's not for the reasons you're saying, so we'll see soon enough. I do 100% believe this rumor is true though and that Apple will be releasing a low cost MacBook next spring regardless.

 

[sirozha]

Can't innovate my ass.

 

[RaoulDuke42]

I think (hope) they'll design a new two pound laptop using the current Air/Pro design language. May or may not be a wedge. As long as it's two pounds or less I'm for it. They could easily fit a 12.9" (or so) display in a laptop defined by the width of its keyboard with the slimmer bezels these days. I hear the arguments about iPhone SE, but even there they moved away from the ancient home button design. Time will tell.

 

[GianL]

Even easier: upcycling MacBook 12" aluminum cases _ with updated keyboard _ .

 

[RaoulDuke42]

Even easier: upcycling MacBook 12" aluminum cases _ with updated keyboard _ .

I'd be totally down with that, but it feels like Apple would go for a unified design language throughout the laptop line. The 2015 12" MacBook design would look out of place next to the current Airs and Pros, dope yes, but more like a cousin than a sibling.

 

[dgdosen]

If Apple wanted to keep this cost effective, would it make sense for this to be an under-2lb laptop? If they do that, I think it would have a smaller footprint that the current air.

 

[RaoulDuke42]

If Apple wanted to keep this cost effective, would it make sense for this to be an under-2lb laptop? If they do that, I think it would have a smaller footprint that the current air.

I suspect a two pound, or even slightly lighter, MacBook wouldn’t be nearly so expensive for them to build today versus a decade ago, considering the much tinier computing devices they crank out now. And it being smaller and lighter gives them something other than the price to highlight.