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7h ago

Apple Rumored to Launch Sub-$999 13-Inch MacBook With A18 Pro Chip

Code references to a Mac17,1 model confirm plans for an A18 Pro-powered MacBook, with mass production slated for late 2025.

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MacBook Air (M4, 2025)
The new, affordable MacBook could be an ideal choice for students. (Pictured: MacBook Air).
While hardware specs remain largely under wraps, the shift to the A18 Pro processor marks a significant departure from Apple’s norm.

Overview

  • Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo’s forecast and discovery of a Mac17,1 entry in Apple’s backend code point to the first MacBook using an A18 Pro iPhone chip.
  • The new 13-inch laptop is expected to enter mass production in late Q4 2025 or early Q1 2026 and debut in 2026.
  • Apple aims to price the model below the current $999 entry-level threshold to compete in the budget laptop segment.
  • Reports suggest the MacBook will be offered in vibrant finishes such as silver, blue, pink and yellow to set it apart from existing models.
  • Apple reportedly targets 5–7 million unit shipments of the A18 Pro MacBook in 2026 to help drive total MacBook volumes back to around 25 million, with Everwin Precision supplying its casings.