Over time, we’ve heard a number of rumors that Apple would possibly resurrect the 12-inch MacBook, however it’s by no means been clear exactly what kind such a tool would take. Now, a brand new collection of experiences suggests a brand new funds MacBook that might fill this slot in an surprising means.
The 12-inch MacBook was one thing of an oddball in Apple’s lineup. Nonetheless, it rapidly gained over many people because of its ultra-compact design, that includes not solely a smaller 12-inch display but in addition an especially skinny design.
Apple achieved this by introducing the much-maligned butterfly keyboard. The premium MacBook additionally featured a Retina show within the days when these have been unique to the MacBook Professional fashions and ushered within the first Drive Contact trackpad and USB-C port configuration. It was additionally the primary fanless MacBook, a feat that wouldn’t be replicated on Apple’s different MacBooks till it transitioned from Intel to the a lot cooler M1 chip.
Basically, the 12-inch MacBook crammed the area of interest that had initially been created with the 2008 MacBook Air — the one which Steve Jobs famously pulled out of a manila envelope on stage at Macworld 2008.
The MacBook Air started its life as a high-end “govt” laptop computer designed for portability. Regardless of a better price ticket, it slot in between the usual then-plastic MacBooks and the extra premium MacBook Professional when it comes to efficiency. There was little doubt that the design, billed because the “world’s thinnest pocket book,” carried a premium price ticket.
Later that very same yr, Apple introduced an aluminum unibody to the bottom MacBook, offering a unified design for the primary time in a number of years. By the next yr, this mannequin would evolve into the 13-inch MacBook Professional, and the plastic-bodied MacBooks would make a return because the entry-level fashions.
For sure, 2007–2009 was a clumsy time for Apple’s MacBook household. Nonetheless, in an odd twist of occasions, Apple rectified this in 2010 through the use of the MacBook Air model to embody a brand new duo of slim 11-inch and 13-inch entry-level fashions. The plastic MacBook and its suffix-less model have been quietly retired in 2011.
From that time on, the lineup has been divided between the lower-end MacBook Air and the higher-end MacBook Professional fashions. Apple blurred these traces a couple of occasions, first with the 12-inch MacBook in 2015 after which later when the bottom 13-inch MacBook Professional debuted with Apple silicon alongside a equally outfitted MacBook Air.
Following its launch in 2015, the 12-inch MacBook noticed minor refreshes in 2016 and 2017 earlier than being put out to pasture in 2019. Rumors of its return have circulated since, however it’s by no means been clear whether or not Apple was contemplating one other “govt laptop computer” or on the lookout for one thing extra modest to fill a lower-end area of interest.
As time handed, the notion of an ultra-slim premium laptop computer appeared much less seemingly. Think about that the 12-inch MacBook debuted the identical yr as Apple’s first 12.9-inch iPad Professional, in an period when iOS wasn’t wherever close to able to be thought-about a viable laptop computer substitute. At this time, the M4 iPad Professional paired with a Magic Keyboard is tough to beat for many who need excessive portability. Providing one other MacBook on this house feels redundant.
An iPhone-Powered MacBook?
Whereas Apple has by no means performed within the ultra-cheap laptop computer house, there’s room for it to supply one thing a bit extra reasonably priced than the bottom $999 MacBook Air. That’s already obvious from the truth that Apple has usually continued to promote older fashions at cheaper price factors.
For instance, when Apple launched the redesigned M2 MacBook Air in 2022, it continued to promote the older-style M1 model at a decrease $999 price ticket. It did the identical with the 13-inch M2 mannequin after the M3 MacBook Air lineup launched in early 2024, though the bigger 15-inch M2 mannequin was discontinued at the moment.
Nonetheless, Apple threw us a curveball when it launched the M4 MacBook Air earlier this yr, dropping the entry-level value of its brand-new mannequin to $999 and discontinuing the M3 mannequin totally, quite than attempting to promote it at a fair cheaper price.
There are a number of theories as to why Apple took this method, however essentially the most believable is the unusual saga of the M3 chip. The fabrication course of for that chip produced very poor yields, and, by all accounts, Apple needed to maneuver on to the M4 as rapidly as doable. It did shock us with an M3-powered iPad Air across the identical time, however that used a lower-spec model of the M3, which suggests Apple is merely eliminating “binned” M3 chips that weren’t ok for the MacBook Air.
Nonetheless, going all-in on the M4 chip additionally cleared the best way for an additional MacBook to fill that lower-cost area of interest, and it seems that Apple would possibly accomplish this not through the use of older M-series silicon however by taking a web page out of the iPad playbook and utilizing an iPhone chip as an alternative.
Whereas Apple’s iPad Air and iPad Professional fashions have lengthy since transitioned to Mac-grade M-series chips, the entry-level iPad and iPad mini nonetheless use A-series chips from older iPhone fashions — an A16 chip for the iPad, and an A17 Professional for the iPad mini. Now, a brand new report means that Apple could select to do the identical for an entry-level MacBook.
That’s in accordance with veteran analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who made some unusually particular claims about what he believes are Apple’s plans for a extra reasonably priced MacBook. In a long-form article posted on X, Kuo claims that Apple has a brand new MacBook slated for mass manufacturing within the subsequent 6–12 months, which will probably be powered by the A18 Professional chip from the iPhone 16 Professional lineup.
Anticipated to enter mass manufacturing in late 4Q25 or early 1Q26, with an roughly 13-inch show and powered by the A18 Professional processor. Potential casing colours embrace silver, blue, pink, and yellow
Ming-Chi Kuo
Such a tool could be a brand new MacBook tier that will align the branding with the iPad household, making a notch under the MacBook Air in the identical means that the entry-level iPad lives under the iPad Air.
Whereas Kuo doesn’t say something about pricing, he does counsel that is an try by Apple to return its MacBook gross sales to “the COVID-19 peak,” of round 25 million items. He believes the brand new “MacBook” might account for as many as 7 million unit gross sales in 2026.
Kuo additionally believes it’s going to function a 13-inch show, and whereas he doesn’t elaborate on the design past that, it’s unlikely to vary considerably from the present MacBook Air. That may disappoint these hoping to see a return of the 12-inch MacBook, however it is smart as Apple isn’t more likely to put money into a completely new design for what’s going to primarily be a funds MacBook.
It might additionally clarify why we haven’t heard a lot about this mannequin prior to now. A design that appears the identical as an M4 MacBook Air would fly simply far sufficient under the radar to flee the discover of leakers and different sources in Apple’s provide chain.
The bodily design could also be similar past a couple of variations in colour choices, because it’s actually what’s inside that makes the distinction. As an example, the M4 MacBook Air has two Thunderbolt 4 ports, however these use the identical connector as normal USB-C ports. Apple might additionally compromise on exterior show help, digicam high quality, and reminiscence and storage capacities, none of which might be obvious from the MacBook’s exterior look.
The transfer to an A18 Professional chip wouldn’t solely scale back prices in comparison with an M-series chip, however it might additionally burn up surplus and “binned” chips from the iPhone 16 Professional collection, which can undoubtedly be discontinued this September when the iPhone 17 Professional replaces them.
Whereas this complete factor sounds very believable, these are nonetheless simply rumors that ought to be taken with a wholesome dose of sodium-based seasoning. Kuo is the one supply for this info at current. Whereas he has dependable sources inside Apple’s Chinese language provide chain, his timings have usually been inaccurate. In different phrases, he’s fairly good on the “what,” however not a lot on the “when.”
[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]