Apple is preparing a budget MacBook based on the A18 Pro mobile chip

Apple could dramatically change the way we think about affordable laptops by launching a new device based on a processor that has been used exclusively in smartphones until now. According to reliable sources in the supply chain, a new MacBook with an estimated price of less than $ 1,000 is being developed in Cupertino. This is significantly lower than the current starting price of the MacBook Air line, traditionally considered the most affordable in the range of Apple laptops.

The key element of the new product will be the transition to the mobile system-on-a-chip (SoC) Apple A18 Pro-the same chip that is used in the upcoming models of the iPhone 16 Pro. Despite the fact that so far Apple laptops have only run on specialized M-series processors, the performance of the A18 Pro, according to synthetic tests like Geekbench, is comparable, and sometimes even exceeds the performance of the Apple M1, Apple's first ARM chip, which debuted in the Mac in 2020. This opens up the possibility of using the A18 Pro in ultra-budget devices without significant compromises in everyday tasks.

The new MacBook will likely retain a 13-inch screen similar to the current Air models. However, the device will have a simplified architecture, which should reduce the cost and retail price. It is expected that the laptop will lose some "professional" features, such as active cooling, possibly reducing the number of ports and reducing the screen brightness. All this is aimed at creating the easiest and cheapest device for basic scenarios — working with documents, surfing the Web, communicating and learning.

The introduction of such a laptop may mark a new strategy for Apple in the educational and emerging markets. The device may also be part of an initiative to promote Apple's proprietary Intelligence platform, focused on introducing AI tools to the company's mass-market products. References to the new device were previously found in software components associated with this system.

According to preliminary data, the launch of the new product is expected at the end of this year or at the beginning of next year. Apple has not yet officially confirmed the development of a laptop based on the A-series chip, but an analysis of the dynamics of the line development and leaks indicates the seriousness of the company's intentions.

If the new MacBook A18 Pro is successful, Apple can not only strengthen its position in the budget laptop market, but also set a new trend: the rejection of bulky computing solutions in favor of energy-efficient and mobile chips.