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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Apple might be creating a brand new budget-friendly MacBook for round $599.
- It will reportedly home the A18 Professional chipset discovered within the iPhone 16 Professional.
- Manufacturing adjustments have pushed the discharge of this light-weight MacBook to 2026.
This summer time, rumors surfaced that Apple was creating a light-weight MacBook working on iPhone {hardware}. Notable Apple insider Ming-Chi Kuo supported the rumors in a publish on X again in July, claiming the corporate was at present engaged on a “more-affordable MacBook” working on the A18 Professional chipset — the identical one discovered within the iPhone 16 Professional — as an alternative of an M-series processor.
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We’ve not heard a lot since these early experiences — till just lately. Notable trade insider Mark Gurman of Bloomberg revealed a short report offering perception into Apple’s imaginative and prescient for this light-weight MacBook, together with the corporate’s objectives.
Codenamed J700, the machine is being “designed for college kids, companies, and informal customers,” teams that primarily use laptops for looking the web, engaged on paperwork, in addition to gentle media modifying.
The report additionally states that Apple is “concentrating on would-be iPad patrons” who could also be extra fascinated about a extra conventional laptop computer expertise somewhat than engaged on a pill with a removable keyboard. Gurman claims the corporate is aiming for an beneath $1,000 value, and it will obtain this value level “through the use of less-advanced parts.”
As a substitute of an M-series chipset and a Liquid Retina show, J700 will reportedly run on an “iPhone processor and a lower-end LCD [screen]”. Moreover, the show might be smaller than the 13.6-inch display screen discovered on the MacBook Air.
Tremendous light-weight
What’s most fascinating to me concerning the Bloomberg report is that many of the info shouldn’t be new. Actually, other than the code title and Apple’s objectives, all that is previous information from a number of months in the past.
Ming-Chi Kuo wasn’t the one supply, as tech information web site DigiTimes reported on one thing comparable again in August. DigiTimes claims to have just lately spoken to an insider with intimate information of this laptop computer, suggesting the machine will price someplace between $599 and $699, which is considerably cheaper than the M4 MacBook Air’s beginning value of $999. It went on to say that this new MacBook will sport a 12.9-inch show, which intently matches to what Gurman’s sources stated.
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It seems there have been some adjustments to manufacturing. DigiTimes initially stated that the parts for J700 may’ve entered “mass manufacturing” someday in late Q3 2025, with plans to launch the laptop computer both by late 2025 or early 2026. Now, plainly the timeframe has been pushed again.
In keeping with Gurman’s report, J700 “is at present in lively testing… and in early manufacturing with abroad suppliers.” Apple plans on launching this light-weight MacBook inside the first half of 2026. Particulars stay scarce.
There’s a lot we do not know, however it’s price mentioning that the long run MacBook is rumored to launch in quite a lot of colours, together with Pink, Blue, Silver, and Yellow, breaking the mildew of what MacBooks appear like.
Good timing
One other tidbit I discovered fascinating is Gurman reminding those who Apple vowed “to not chase market share with lower-end choices.” Apple merchandise have traditionally been luxurious, premium units, however now plainly the market is pushing the tech large’s hand to develop its choices. Apparently, this finances Mac is the model’s try and lure folks away from Chromebooks and midrange Home windows PCs — they usually could not be doing it at a greater time.
Home windows 10 assist formally ended on October 14, 2025, as Microsoft goals to push customers to Home windows 11. Individuals who do not need to improve may have a brand new possibility with out all of the bloat or pointless options. We’re already seeing folks jump over to Linux somewhat than go to Home windows 11.
That stated, it most likely will not be an ideal machine.
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MacRumors, of their report, stated “that the A19 professional chip lacks Thunderbolt assist”, which means the long run MacBook may solely have common USB-C ports. Thunderbolt ports have distinctive options like the power to ship out video indicators to a number of screens concurrently and lightning-fast knowledge switch speeds.
That might be a dealbreaker for some, however the creation of a low-cost MacBook cheaper than the Air could also be too alluring to disregard.
The laptop computer is not the one rumored venture. Kuo additionally claimed that Apple is engaged on a pair of good glasses set to launch in 2027. This pair will reportedly perform equally to Meta Ray-Bans, because it will not have a heads up show. Nonetheless, he urged the glasses will present audio playback, file video, and assist “AI environmental sensing”, with a number of materials and elegance choices.
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