Apple’s MacBook lineup could be in for a major shakeup. The company is reportedly planning on releasing a new laptop that can compete with Windows laptops in the budget market. Such a laptop could bring the Mac to a whole new class of users.
This new, low-cost MacBook could be a very popular one, which means you’ll want to keep track of its developments. Well, look no further. This article will keep track of the rumors and reports of this upcoming product, as well as offer our perspective on the device, so keep an eye on this page for the latest.
A19 Pro MacBook: Release date
- Rumored spring 2026 release
One recurrent rumor in 2025 has predicted that Apple plans to launch a lower-cost MacBook model based around an A-class (probably A19 Pro or A18 Pro) iPhone processor. The timeframe of such a project has been relatively vague, but credible analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who began the original rumor about the low-cost MacBook, back in June 2025, has claimed that the new MacBook will enter mass production during the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2025.
Kuo has suggested that Apple would start production of the new iPhone chip-powered MacBook Pro at the end of the fourth quarter of 2025 or in the early stage of the first quarter of 2026, if this is correct, the device could be with us as soon as spring 2026.
Kuo isn’t the only one pointing to the launch. On August 11, DigiTimes reported that the new budget MacBook could ship “by the end of the third quarter of 2025.” While that didn’t happen, there could still be a new budget MacBook in the near future.
It’s worth emphasising that these dates refer to the manufacturing process rather than the announcement or shipping timeframe. If that began near the start of Q4–in the middle of October, for instance–then it’s possible the product could be with us by the end of 2025, but at this point it seems more plausible that it’ll arrive in early 2026, potentially at a spring event.
More evidence that such a Mac is in the pipeline: MacRumors reported that the identifier “Mac17,1” was found in the code of Apple Intelligence. This identifier does not correspond to any known Macs, nor does it follow the convention of any upcoming Macs. It’s assumed that this is referring to the A19 (or A18) Pro MacBook.
On November 4, 2025, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that Apple is planning to release a “low-cost laptop to rival Chromebooks and Windows PCs” in the first half of 2026. It is currently in testing at Apple and “in early production with overseas suppliers.”
What will the new MacBook be called?
- MacBook (probably)
No reports have been made about the official name of the laptop, but you can assume it won’t be part of the MacBook Air line. It’s being referred to as the A18 or A19 Pro MacBook, based on the chip it could have. Apple could simply call it “MacBook,” reviving the name of the discontinued 12-inch MacBook that was targeted at a similar market.
Foundry
A19 Pro MacBook: Design
- 12.9-inch display rumored.
We haven’t heard much about the design of the A19 Pro MacBook, but we can make some assumptions based on the discontinued 12-inch MacBook.
When Apple offered the 12-inch MacBook, it had a simple design that was not unlike the current MacBook Pro and the MacBook Air. So, it’s safe to assume that the design of this new laptop will follow Apple’s current MacBook form, though it might be lighter and thinner than the current Air to create some distance between the two lines.
Apple’s goal with this laptop is to make it affordable compared to the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, and one way to cut costs is to make a plastic case instead of an aluminum one. However, since Apple is working to make its products carbon-neutral, it’s doubtful that it would use plastic. So, like the 12-inch MacBook, it’s likely Apple will either use aluminum or some other recyclable or carbon-free material.
Apple currently uses a Liquid Retina (LED-backlit display with IPS technology) display in the MacBook Air, an upgrade over the original Retina displays Apple last used with the 13-inch MacBook Pro in 2022. It’s possible Apple could revert to a Retina display with squared-off corners for the A19 Pro MacBook, though it’s more likely that Apple shaves cost by using a smaller display.
On August 11, DigiTimes reported that the laptop will have a 12.9-inch display, slightly smaller than the 13-inch MacBook Air.
As for color choices. Previously the MacBook was Silver, Space Gray and Gold. Could Apple take inspiration from the iPhone colors, such as a Deep Blue option, Light Gold or even Cosmic Orange?
A19 Pro MacBook: Features
- Could include modem for cellular connectivity.
We haven’t heard much about the features of the A19 Pro MacBook, but for now, we can make some guesses based on the target market and what Apple does and has done with the MacBook lineup. Given the seemingly lower price of this new laptop, we can assume it will lack features found in the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.
The feature set is another area where the 12-inch MacBook can provide some insight. The 12-inch MacBook had only one USB-C port, and it’s possible Apple could go a similar route, possibly with the inclusion of a MagSafe port for charging. The A19 Pro does not support Thunderbolt, so the laptop would have USB-C only.
It’s also possible that Apple opts not to include a built-in camera. Over the past several years, Apple has promoted the Mac’s Continuity Camera feature that lets you use an iPhone as a Mac webcam, as well as the upcoming macOS Tahoe Magnifier app. Apple could promote this as a webcam solution. This would be a drastic change, since it’s been a long time since Apple shipped a laptop without a camera, but it could be a possibility in order to meet the company’s price goal.
A19 Pro MacBook: Processor and specs
- Expected to use iPhone chip: A19 Pro or A18 Pro.
Another way to meet the pricing goals for this new MacBook is to use a chip that isn’t as robust as the chips used in the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. The initial report stated that Apple will use an A18 Pro, the same chip that was in the iPhone 16 Pro. Now that the A19 arrived with the iPhone 17 this is probably the more likely chip.
Read more about what the iPhone 17 can tell us about the MacBook that could use the same chip in: Is Apple’s rumored cheap MacBook hiding in plain sight?
The A-series chips are used in iPhones, while M-series chips are in Macs. Both chip families are based on the same general architecture, but the M chips generally offer more processing power.
An A19 Pro (and A18 Pro) can technically do everything an M-series chip can, but it will be slower. When comparing Geekbench 6 benchmarks, the A18 Pro offered single-core performance that’s on par with the M3. However, because the A18 Pro has only 6 CPU cores, its multi-core performance is slightly behind the M1, which has 8 CPU cores. If Apple keeps everything the same, an A18 Pro MacBook will perform like an M1 MacBook Air, which, for a lot of people, has more than enough processing power. Should Apple use an A19 Pro we can expect something even better.
It will draw comparison with the iPad models that are powered by Mac chips, though.
MacRumors reported in December 2025 that references to an A18 Pro MacBook appeared in a set of leaked Apple files.
Apple is now using its own wireless networking chip, the N1 in the iPhone 17, bringing Bluetooth 6, Wi-Fi 7, and Thread. It’s likely the same chips will make their way into the A19 Pro MacBook. There’s also a chance this new Mac will have cellular connectivity using Apple’s C1, C1X or yet to launch C2 modem.
A19 Pro MacBook: Performance
Results are expressed as Geekbench scores. Higher scores/longer bars are faster.
We don’t yet have the benchmarks for the A19 Pro, but the A18 Pro has 8GB of RAM, which Apple has said is the bare minimum required to run Apple Intelligence features. So, this new laptop will have at least 8GB of RAM and possibly 16GB, like the other MacBook models. Since the iPhone doesn’t offer RAM upgrades, we don’t know what Apple could charge for extra memory.
As for graphics performance, the A18 Pro has a 6-core GPU, and its Metal score in Geekbench 6’s Compute benchmark is similar to that of the M1 found in the MacBook Air. It’s not a cutting-edge performer, but it’ll handle everyday tasks without any issues. Since Apple’s other MacBooks all start at 256GB of storage, it’s nearly certain this model will come with 256GB of storage as well.
We will update this with the A19 benchmarks.
A19 Pro MacBook: Price
Apple’s goal is to sell 25 million MacBook in 2025, which would be a 5 million increase from the current 20 million. A 25 percent increase is significant, so to move 5 million units, Apple will need to price the A19 Pro MacBook significantly lower than the lowest price in Apple’s current laptop lineup.
The cheapest laptop Apple sells is the $999 MacBook Air. However, Walmart still sells the M1 MacBook Air with a 256GB SSD for $649 and as low as $599. The A19 Pro MacBook has been thought of as a replacement for this Walmart model, though it’s hard to believe it would be that cheap. A price that falls between $729 and $849 seems like it would fit into the MacBook lineup.
Author: Roman Loyola, Senior Editor, Macworld
Roman is a Macworld Senior Editor with over 30 years of experience covering the tech industry, focusing on the Mac and other products in the Apple ecosystem. He is also the host of the Macworld Podcast. His career started at MacUser, where he received Apple certification as a repair technician (when Apple did that kind of thing). He's also worked for MacAddict, MacLife, and TechTV.