Apple Planning Cheaper 13-inch MacBook with A18 Pro Chip, Mass Production Late 2025
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At present, all of Apple’s notebook computers are powered exclusively by M-series chips, while its smartphones and tablets continue to utilize the A-series chips. As the M-series is designed specifically for laptops, it naturally delivers superior performance compared to the A-series.
However, Apple now appears poised to follow in Qualcomm’s footsteps by experimenting with the use of A-series chips in its laptops. Renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reports that Apple is planning to launch a 13-inch MacBook equipped with the A18 Pro chip.
This MacBook is expected to be priced lower due to the adoption of the A18 Pro chip, which has already been deployed in the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. In Geekbench 6 tests, the A18 Pro achieved a single-core score of 3400 and a multi-core score of 8500.
Judging solely by benchmark results, the A18 Pro performs only slightly below Apple’s M4 chip, suggesting that it could deliver commendable performance in a MacBook. Additionally, its power efficiency may contribute to extended battery life.
In terms of compatibility, there should be little cause for concern. Most mainstream applications are now available in ARM versions optimized for the M-series, and since both A-series and M-series chips are based on the ARM architecture, these apps can run natively without emulation or translation layers.
Kuo also noted that Apple aims to ship between 5 and 7 million units of the A18 Pro-powered MacBook by 2026. While pricing details remain undisclosed, this MacBook is positioned as an entry-level device, which suggests it will be priced quite competitively.
For Apple, offering an inexpensive entry-level model could allow it to challenge mid- and low-end Windows PCs and compete with Google Chromebooks in the education sector. For users whose needs are limited to basic tasks and web browsing, such a device would likely prove more than sufficient.
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