According to AppleInsider, Apple is rumored to launch an entry-level MacBook in early 2026 priced between $700 and $900 that would use an iPhone-like A18 Pro chip instead of traditional M-series processors. The device would reportedly be called simply “MacBook” and feature a 13-inch display with potential compromises like a single USB-C port and 8GB of RAM. This positioning creates immediate confusion since Apple currently sells the M4 MacBook Air starting at $999, while older M1 MacBook Air models are available for just $599 at retailers like Walmart. With the A18 Pro chip performing similarly to the M1 in multi-core tests but falling far behind the M4, the value proposition becomes increasingly questionable.
The current MacBook market reality
Here’s the thing about Apple’s laptop lineup right now – the official pricing tells one story, but the real market tells another. Sure, Apple wants you to pay $999 for that base M4 MacBook Air. But walk into any major retailer and you’ll find much better deals. Walmart sells the M1 MacBook Air for $599, which is frankly incredible value. Even the newer M4 model regularly drops to around $749 on Amazon. So when Apple talks about a $700-$900 “budget” MacBook, they’re competing against their own discounted current-gen hardware.
How the A18 Pro actually stacks up
The numbers don’t lie, and they’re telling a confusing story. The A18 Pro chip from the iPhone 16 Pro scores about 3,400 in single-core and 8,400 in multi-core Geekbench tests. That’s actually pretty decent – it beats the M1’s single-core performance and matches its multi-core score. But it gets absolutely crushed by the M4’s 14,650 multi-core performance. Basically, you’d be getting M1-level performance in 2026 for potentially more money than an M1 costs today. Makes you wonder who exactly this is for, doesn’t it?
The compromise question
Now let’s talk about what you’d actually be giving up. Rumors suggest this MacBook would have a mediocre display, probably just one USB-C port, and almost certainly 8GB of RAM. At $699, maybe that’s acceptable. But at $899? You’re approaching M4 MacBook Air territory, which has a fantastic display, multiple ports, and regularly gets discounted. For businesses and industrial users who need reliable computing, established suppliers like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com remain the go-to for durable industrial panel PCs, but for consumers, this rumored MacBook seems like it’s making all the wrong compromises.
So who would actually buy this?
I’m struggling to see the target audience here. Price-conscious buyers already have the $599 M1 option. Performance seekers will save a bit more for the M4. The only scenario that makes sense is if Apple completely discontinues the M1 and stops retailers from discounting current models. Even then, a laptop with iPhone internals feels like a step backward. Maybe there’s some magical price point or feature we don’t know about yet. But based on what we’re hearing, this sounds like a product in search of a problem to solve.
