Apple is reportedly preparing a surprisingly affordable MacBook with a 12.9-inch screen and a starting price in the $599-$699 range, positioning it well below the current 13-inch MacBook Air. We reported on Apple's plans last month , and DigiTimes today confirmed the target price point. The laptop is said to be powered by the A18 Pro chip, the same silicon that appeared in last year's iPhone 16 Pro, which would mark the first time Apple uses an iPhone-class processor inside a Mac. Component suppliers are expected to ramp up production of some parts by the end of the third quarter of 2025, with final assembly scheduled to take place at Quanta in the fourth quarter. That schedule lines up with a commercial launch targeted for late 2025 or early 2026. The combination of a smaller display than the Air and a phone-derived chip suggests a very thin, lightweight design that reduces costs by accepting a few hardware compromises.

To hit the rumored price point, Apple would likely limit some features standard to M-series Macs. The A18 Pro does not support Thunderbolt, so the machine would probably use standard USB-C ports. Additionally, memory and external display capabilities are likely to be very limited. Still, the trade-offs may be acceptable for users who prioritize portability and price over professional-level performance. The single-core A18 Pro performance is comparable to the latest M4, but the multicore performance lags behind, so incorporating a mobile-grade chip will be an interesting addition to Apple's Mac product stack. Color selection could include Silver, Blue, Pink, and Yellow. Analysts forecast annual shipments in the range of five to seven million units, a volume that could help Apple reach students and buyers who have so far opted for Chromebooks or more affordable Windows machines. Additionally, this would be the first time Apple has focused on tapping the budget sector with its Macs, all in an effort to capture more market share.