Apple reportedly working on a cheaper MacBook with iPhone chip — analyst says to expect A18 Pro in a 13-inch laptop

Apple is reportedly developing a more affordable 13-inch MacBook, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, which will integrate the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone and target a late 2025 or early 2026 launch. This strategic initiative aims to expand Apple's market share by offering a lower-priced entry point to compete with Chromebooks and mid-level Windows laptops, particularly for the education sector and budget-conscious consumers. With performance comparable to earlier M-series chips, Apple projects selling 5-7 million units of this new model in 2026, signaling a significant push into a broader market segment.

Analysis

According to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is reportedly developing a new, lower-cost 13-inch MacBook for a late 2025 or early 2026 launch, representing a strategic push into the high-volume, budget-conscious market segment. This initiative targets a sales volume of 5-7 million units in 2026, aiming to compete directly with Chromebooks and entry-level Windows laptops, particularly in the education sector. The device's reported use of an A18 Pro chip, originally from the iPhone, is a significant technical deviation from the Mac's M-series processors. Performance benchmarks suggest the A18 Pro offers single-core speeds only slightly lower than the new M4 chip but multi-core performance comparable to the first-generation M1, a profile well-suited for the target market's simpler tasks. This move, if realized, would expand Apple's total addressable market but also introduce a product at a price point likely below the $999 MacBook Air, potentially impacting overall margin structure. The speculative choice of an A-series chip could be driven by a superior Neural Processing Unit (NPU) compared to older M-series chips, embedding more advanced on-device AI capabilities at a lower cost.

Key Decisions for Investors

• Investors should view this potential product as a long-term catalyst for Mac unit growth, closely monitoring for confirmations as the 5-7 million unit forecast for 2026 would represent a significant expansion of Apple's market share in the personal computer space.
• Consider the potential for gross margin dilution, as a sub-$999 MacBook would pressure Apple's hardware profitability, requiring a high-volume strategy to offset the lower per-unit revenue.
• Evaluate the strategic use of an A-series chip not just as a cost-saving measure, but as a potential indicator of Apple's intent to standardize advanced AI capabilities across its entire product ecosystem, which could be a key long-term differentiator.
• Given the speculative nature of the report and the distant launch timeline, the immediate impact is low, but this development warrants tracking as a key indicator of Apple's strategy to address competition in the budget and education markets.