Apple Plans to Launch Affordable 12.9-Inch MacBook with A18 Pro Chip in Early 2026

Apple is reportedly preparing to release a 12.9-inch MacBook powered by the A18 Pro chip, targeting the entry-level market with a price range between $599 and $699. Production is expected to begin in late 2025, with a potential launch in early 2026.

The A18 Pro chip, introduced with the iPhone 16 Pro, features a 6-core CPU, a 6-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. Its performance is comparable to the M1 chip, suggesting that this new MacBook could serve as a successor to the M1 MacBook Air.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has indicated that the laptop will have a display around 13 inches and may be available in colors such as silver, blue, pink, and yellow.

The device is expected to feature a 12.9-inch display, slightly smaller than the 13.6-inch screen of the current MacBook Air.

The A18 Pro chip lacks Thunderbolt support, so the new MacBook would likely be equipped with regular USB-C ports, resulting in slower data transfer speeds and external display limitations.

Market projections suggest that annual shipments of the low-cost MacBook could reach between 5 million and 7 million units, potentially increasing Apple's total MacBook volume by 30% to 40%.