Apple’s eagerly-awaited low-cost MacBook appears ready for early 2026

It seems that the wait for an even more affordable MacBook is not going to be a long one after all. According to a research note by supply chain analyst Jeff Pu (via 9to5Mac), the rumored low-cost Apple laptop with an iPhone processor will hit the shelves in 2026. 

What’s the big development? 

As per Pu’s prediction, the upcoming device will be introduced at some point in “mid-Q1 2026.” That broadly means we can expect a market arrival at some point in February. A palatable sticker price is going to be the biggest draw of this machine, but the silicon powering it could be another crucial surprise. 

Apple will reportedly equip this laptop with the A18 Pro processor, a silicon that currently ticks at the heart of the iPhone 16 Pro pair. This isn’t even the latest mobile processor in Apple’s catalog, and yeah, Apple is clearly digging into its parts inventory for a chip that is older — and probably, cheaper — for its highly anticipated laptop. 

It’s not a shocking shift

The rumored deployment of the A18 Pro inside the laptop is also a clearer sign that Apple has been testing this device for a while now. Will it be powerful enough? Well, Apple transitioned Macs away from Intel to its Arm-based M-series processors based on Macs running the A12Z processor, which has only been used inside iPads. So yeah, firepower likely isn’t going to be much of a concern for budget MacBook shoppers. 

Apple is clearly digging into its parts bin for the upcoming device. Apple won’t be the first name out there to follow this strategy. The strategy is pretty familiar across the PC and smartphone industry. Even Qualcomm has a long history of selling older, slightly watered-down versions of its flagship mobile over the years. The strategy has paid off, as it allows device manufacturers to make performance-centric devices at a lower cost. 

Our expert take

Apple has implemented this strategy across the iPhone portfolio, the iPad, and Apple Watches. Right now, memory and silicon are two of the most expensive components fitted inside a laptop or phone, and their asking price is going to see a step hike in 2026. A similar approach applies to the design. The wedge-shaped MacBook Air design was a mainstay for over a decade, and the Pro model with the flattened sides also enjoyed a long run. 

Again, the objective is to save on engineering and R&D costs. It is unclear what the upcoming low-cost MacBook is going to look like. Will Apple adopt a design with a lower-cost polycarbonate build, bring back the iconic 12-inch MacBook design with a single USB-C port, or just stick with the design we got on the M1 MaCBook Air? All that remains under speculation. 

Whatever the final product ends up looking like, it will most likely be a familiar package. Let’s hope Apple puts it in a price bracket where it can serve as a viable alternative to the 13-inch iPad Air, especially with the asking price of the keyboard factored into the final bill.