Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Will the Rumored Lower-Cost MacBook Use an A18 Pro or A19 Pro Chip?

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
69,366
40,403


Over the past few months, there have been rumors about a more affordable MacBook powered by an iPhone processor launching in late 2025 or early 2026. However, it is not entirely clear yet whether the laptop will have an A18 Pro or A19 Pro chip.

Low-Cost-MacBook-Feature-A18-Pro.jpg

In June, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the lower-cost MacBook would be equipped with the A18 Pro, which debuted in the iPhone 16 Pro models last year. Soon after, MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris also discovered evidence that pointed towards the laptop being powered by the A18 Pro, and DigiTimes reported the same.

It is quite possible that Apple has already finalized specs for the lower-cost MacBook, so it very well might be the A18 Pro in the first-generation model.

However, in a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo last week, an account known as "Mobile Phone Chip Expert" claimed that Apple is considering using the A19 Pro chip in the lower-cost MacBook. If so, it is unclear if it would be the 6-core GPU version in the iPhone 17 Pro models, or the 5-core GPU version in the iPhone Air.

"Mobile Phone Chip Expert" was one of the sources who said at least one iPhone 17 model would be equipped with 12GB of RAM, so they have a bit of a track record.

Obviously, the A19 Pro would be faster than the A18 Pro, which has similar performance as the M1 chip. It would also be good news for RAM, as the A19 Pro has 12GB of unified memory, whereas the A18 Pro has 8GB. The entire new Mac lineup has started with at least 16GB of RAM since last year, with the only option with 8GB being the five-year-old MacBook Air with an M1 chip, which is sold exclusively by Walmart for $599.

Both the A18 Pro and A19 Pro lack Thunderbolt support, so the MacBook would likely be equipped with regular USB-C ports. They would look the same as Thunderbolt ports, but data transfer speeds would be limited to up to 10 Gbps. Plus, only a single external display would be natively supported, but DisplayLink adapters allow for more.

Kuo expects the lower-cost MacBook to have a 13-inch display, and he said potential color options for the laptop included silver, blue, pink, and yellow.

Apple often announces new Macs in October, so perhaps the lower-cost MacBook will debut next month. Otherwise, March 2026 is the next likely timeframe.

Article Link: Will the Rumored Lower-Cost MacBook Use an A18 Pro or A19 Pro Chip?
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/09/18/lower-cost-macbook-a18-pro-or-a19-pro/
  • Like
Reactions: flowderf
As a display of my own ignorance:

could Apple be making an A19 Pro+ (or whatever name they come up with) which has 16 GB of RAM? Or more GPU’s? Or a faster clock speed?

What’s easily changeable in making variant chips and what’s not?
 
I think on paper this sounds like a great idea. It maximizes the development costs of a separate dedicated Pro iPhone chip. The cost of the pro chip could be offset if it is used in multiple high volume devices. They may get so good they could even enter a base MacBook Air. As long as it does not distract from development of my beloved Max chips that I depend on to get work done, it's all good
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jumpthesnark
DTphonehome said:
I'm thinking 19 Pro strictly for the 12 GB RAM. I can't see Apple releasing any device with 8GB anymore, with Apple Intelligence a but part of their marketing. 8GB is the bare minimum for AI.
Click to expand...
I doubt it. I'm thinking that Apple may try to make Apple Intelligence an incentive to buy the Air instead of the budget MacBook, just like what they do on the budget iPad.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
  • Disagree
Reactions: businessnumbersmoneypeopl and aParkerMusic
A19 also has something they call “neural accelerators” in their GPUs — different than the Neural Engine — for better AI/machine learning calculations on the GPU. I think the AI **** is silly but Apple obviously wants all their hardware ready for the new hotness.

There's also the fact that Apple very rarely makes new computer products based on old chips… yeah, they put them in accessories like HomePods and Studio Displays, but not the “real” stuff.

Every time the iPad Mini is due for a refresh, it’s rumored to get a one or two year old chip, but always turns out to be whatever's fresh — the product is going to be unchanged for 3 years, so it had better have the best chip they can put in it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Biro
DTphonehome said:
I'm thinking 19 Pro strictly for the 12 GB RAM. I can't see Apple releasing any device with 8GB anymore, with Apple Intelligence a but part of their marketing. 8GB is the bare minimum for AI.
Click to expand...

Even A12Z could address at least 16GB. Why would Apple need A19 for that? I’d be surprised if A19 couldn’t handle at least 32GB.
 
  • Like
Reactions: eas and aParkerMusic
MacRumors said:
Obviously, the A19 Pro would be faster than the A18 Pro, which has similar performance as the M1 chip. It would also be good news for RAM, as the A19 Pro has 12GB of unified memory, whereas the A18 Pro has 8GB. The entire new Mac lineup has started with at least 16GB of RAM since last year, with the only option with 8GB being the five-year-old MacBook Air with an M1 chip, which is sold exclusively by Walmart for $599.
Click to expand...
Just because the A18 Pro only ships with 8GB in the iPhone doesn't mean it can't support higher memory configurations. For example, the A12Z in the Apple Silicon Developer Transition Kit Mac Mini shipped with 16GB of RAM despite the A12Z only ever shipping with 6GB of RAM in the iPad Pro. Apple just needs to use higher density RAM chips.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ZZ9pluralZalpha, tranceking26, aParkerMusic and 2 others
Eric_WVGG said:
A19 also has something they call “neural accelerators” in their GPUs — different than the Neural Engine — for better AI/machine learning calculations on the GPU. I think the AI **** is silly but Apple obviously wants all their hardware ready for the new hotness.

There's also the fact that Apple very rarely makes new computer products based on old chips… yeah, they put them in accessories like HomePods and Studio Displays, but not the “real” stuff.

Every time the iPad Mini is due for a refresh, it’s rumored to get a one or two year old chip, but always turns out to be whatever's fresh — the product is going to be unchanged for 3 years, so it had better have the best chip they can put in it.
Click to expand...

Apple put A16/6 into iPad when everyone was expecting 8GB.

This low cost MacBook is the equivalent of that level of product.
 
Eric_WVGG said:
A19 also has something they call “neural accelerators” in their GPUs — different than the Neural Engine — for better AI/machine learning calculations on the GPU. I think the AI **** is silly but Apple obviously wants all their hardware ready for the new hotness.

There's also the fact that Apple very rarely makes new computer products based on old chips… yeah, they put them in accessories like HomePods and Studio Displays, but not the “real” stuff.

Every time the iPad Mini is due for a refresh, it’s rumored to get a one or two year old chip, but always turns out to be whatever's fresh — the product is going to be unchanged for 3 years, so it had better have the best chip they can put in it.
Click to expand...
Yes, I also think they will use the A19 Pro chip. It seems much more “macOS proof”, feels more like a computer chip, with a much improved GPU, neural accelerators and several times more Ray Tracing capabilities. Also the e-cores are insanely good and powerful.

If this device ends up being a reality, I may consider it. But honestly I have a preference for an M5 powered Mac, so we’ll see. If it’s as lightweight as the 12” MacBook it could be my next Mac.

Hopefully they will offer at least one RAM upgrade option to 24GB.
 
JPack said:
Either way, it will significantly outperform M1, which is what matters.
Click to expand...

Yeah. The M1 256/8 MBA Walmart sells for $600 currently is a horrendously terrible value considering for only $200 more you can get a modern MBA 256/16. If this low cost MB could approach the level of the MBA in performance it would serve the needs of a lot of people.
 
  • Disagree
  • Like
Reactions: jhfenton and tooloud10
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back