Apple to Launch $599 MacBook With A18 Pro Chip [Report]

A new report from DigiTimes, citing supply chain sources, claims Apple is preparing to launch a new, lower-cost MacBook. The device will reportedly enter mass production in the fourth quarter of 2025, with a potential release in late 2025 or early 2026.

According to the report, the new notebook could be priced between $599 and $699—a significant departure from the current $999 entry point for the MacBook Air. Details on the device are still limited, but sources suggest it will feature a 12.9-inch display and be powered by an A18 Pro processor. The move would mark the first time Apple has used an A-series chip in a Mac, a strategy that aligns with an earlier forecast from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who also pointed to a new affordable MacBook with an A18 Pro chip. A previously leaked product roadmap also identified an unreleased Mac model, J700, that could correspond to this new device.

The report suggests some components are expected to enter mass production by the end of the third quarter, with Quanta Computer handling final assembly in the fourth quarter. This comes as Apple's Mac sales have seen strong growth, with third-quarter revenue hitting an all-time high of $8 billion, a 15% year-over-year increase, according to Apple's most recent earnings call.


While some have speculated that a lower-cost MacBook would be aimed at the Chromebook-dominated education market, DigiTimes Research senior analyst Jim Hsiao believes the move is more likely a strategy to offset inflationary price increases for the MacBook Air and maintain a competitively priced entry-level option.

Market projections suggest the new model could ship between 5 and 7 million units annually, potentially boosting Apple's total MacBook volume by 30% to 40%.

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