Apple's Budget MacBook Could Skip True Tone and Fast Charging to Cut Costs [Rumor]

Apple's upcoming low-cost MacBook might ship without several standard hardware features to reach a lower price point, according to unverified claims circulating on social media. The details, allegedly pulled from a pre-release build of macOS, suggest Apple is making clear hardware tradeoffs to separate the new A18 Pro laptop from the MacBook Air lineup.



The hardware specifics were posted by an unknown user on the Chinese platform Weibo. The account claims to have analyzed kernel extensions from a beta version of macOS to outline the compromises. While the source lacks a track record, the broader premise aligns with recent discoveries in the macOS 26.3 code, which confirmed the existence of a new base-model notebook powered by an A-series chip. The poster argues the machine is intended to replace the M1 MacBook Air still sold through certain authorized educational resellers.


If the purported system drivers are accurate, the laptop may not support high-impedance headphones. The user claims Apple is reusing the older CS42L83 DAC from the M1 generation rather than newer audio hardware. The display could also see changes, with the post suggesting Apple will drop True Tone support. According to the account, the operating system doesn't include the necessary color sensor drivers and instead appears to rely on a basic ambient light sensor similar to the one used in the HomePod mini. Fast charging may also be missing, as the code reportedly lacks the high-voltage charger drivers used for quicker battery top-ups.

On the connectivity side, the leaker points to a MediaTek Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip codenamed Sunrise, the same component found in the base Wi-Fi iPad. The post also suggests the laptop could ship without a backlit keyboard, something Apple has previously omitted from certain entry-level Magic Keyboard accessories aimed at schools.

Internally, the machine is said to include 8GB of RAM, enough to meet the minimum requirements for Apple Intelligence. Storage options are expected to start at 256GB, with a 512GB configuration as well. The leaker also floats the possibility of a 128GB version specifically for the education market. SSD speeds are also expected to trail the current M4 MacBook Air.

The reported feature set would fit a device aimed at education and entry-level buyers, but it remains unclear whether this specific code analysis is legitimate. Apple is widely expected to unveil the new A18 Pro MacBook alongside updated iPads and the iPhone 17e during a staggered hardware rollout scheduled for early March.