Apple may launch low-cost MacBook with A18 chip in 2026

Apple might finally be working on a cheaper MacBook. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the company is preparing a new entry-level model powered by its A18 Pro chip. That’s the same chip used in the iPhone 16 Pro. If it ships, it would be the first Mac to run on a mobile-class processor.

This new MacBook isn’t replacing the MacBook Air. It would likely sit below it, opening the door for a more budget-friendly macOS option. The current Air is already Apple’s most affordable laptop. However, this model could push pricing even lower by using chips Apple is already producing at scale for iPhones.

Kuo claims the laptop could have a 13-inch display and be available in Silver, Blue, Pink, and Yellow. Production may begin at the end of this year or early 2026, and a launch is expected sometime in the first half of next year.

A18 Pro vs M4

Performance-wise, it’s a mixed picture. According to the current benchmarks, the M4 in the latest iPad Pro crushes the A18 Pro in both AnTuTu and Geekbench tests. On AnTuTu 10, the M4 scores 2.79 million compared to the A18 Pro’s 1.81 million. The most significant gap is in GPU and memory performance. Geekbench 6 results show a similar trend. The M4 leads in single-core and has a massive 61 percent advantage in multi-core tasks.

Even so, the A18 Pro still holds up for most day-to-day work. It handles browser tasks, light productivity, and even some media processing without issue. And with Apple pushing Apple Intelligence across its devices, this chip could make the cut for entry-level AI features too.

Apple has already blurred the line between its iPad and Mac chips by putting M-series processors into iPads. Swapping things around the other way, by dropping an A-series chip into a Mac, doesn’t seem that far-fetched anymore. The bigger question is how Apple wants to position this device. If the price is right, it could be the MacBook equivalent of the iPhone SE.