Apple’s next laptop might be low-cost and powered by an iPhone chip. Here’s why I still want one

Rumors about a new low-cost Apple MacBook computer powered by an iPhone chip continue to circulate. These reports come from a notable supply chain analyst and reporters in Asia, among others. Since the smoke only seems to be intensifying around this fire, it brings up the questions: How would Apple, notorious for high margins, craft a low-cost computer? And, secondarily, why would it do so?

I think both questions can be answered by looking at the company’s other products. While Apple is secretive about how it operates, it often follows patterns. The realities of a cheap MacBook might not be as mysterious as they seemed from the outset. Here’s what I expect the laptop to be and why I’m likely in for one.

The iPad line is the precedent

If you want to play the game, ‘What even is a computer?’ Apple already has cheap laptops in the form of its iPad line. It has the entry-level $350 iPad and the $600 iPad Air. However, once you pair any decent keyboard with one of those options, the price suddenly isn’t low anymore.

But I do think Apple’s line of iPads foreshadows what we might expect from its future line of laptops.

The iPad Air with M3 starts at $599 and goes to $699 with 256GB of storage. When you add a Magic Keyboard for iPad Air to it, the price becomes $968. That’s pretty close to the MacBook Air M4’s $999 price—which also starts with 256GB.

So, what if the new MacBook mirrors the entry-level iPad? That one has an A16 chip, and if you price it with 128GB of storage and the Magic Keyboard Folio for iPad, the price comes to $598.

I wouldn’t be surprised if our answer to the question: How much does an entry-level MacBook cost? Turns out to be $599.

What specs can we expect from a low-cost Apple Laptop

To point out something obvious, Walmart still sells a brand-new MacBook Air M1 with a 13-inch display, 256GB of storage, and 8GB of RAM for $650 (retail). That price has fluctuated and been as low as $550 during sales.

The reason to make a new, low-cost MacBook would be to replace that nearly six-year-old computer. Having a refreshed model could allow Apple to put newer parts in it that are used in other devices for more efficient manufacturing. It might actually cost less to make with a few newer pieces inside.

I expect a new entry MacBook to mirror the philosophy of the entry-level iPad, but I don’t expect it to match the iPad in specs. So, for example, I expect the new MacBook to have a retina screen, but not the best version. It may or may not have things like P3 color or antireflective coating, but whatever features it ends up having still won’t be as good as the MacBook Air’s screen.

Here are the specs I’m expecting from looking at the entry iPad and the MacBook Air M1 being sold by Walmart.

• 256GB of storage
• 12GB of RAM
• 12- or 13-inch retina display
• 18 hours of battery life

Having 8GB of RAM is a cutoff for Apple Intelligence, so that seems like a natural floor. Future-proofing this device for a four or five-year run might mean putting 12GB of RAM in it now. Whatever the number is, I would guess it's less than the 16GB that the MacBook Air has.

Regarding storage, macOS seems to use more disk space than iOS. I have no problem with a 256GB iPhone, but my Mac mini with the same amount of space is pushing up against being full. If 128GB on a MacBook was feasible, I think the company would try it, but I don’t think it is any longer.

With an A-series processor, I think Apple will gain more battery efficiency and be able to cut the physical size of the battery (to save cost) and still get plenty of life, good even! I actually think if they kept the same amount of battery capacity with an A18 Pro, the computer might get too much battery life for its price point.

A few other guesses:

• While the MacBook Air with M1 has become a Walmart exclusive, I expect this new laptop to be sold through Apple, Walmart, and its other retail partners.
• I don’t think it will have any upgrade options. You might be able to pick colors, but otherwise, this is the computer. If you want more RAM or storage, then you’ll need to upgrade to the MacBook Air.

Why I’m not concerned about an iPhone chip in a laptop

Ultimately, with a Mac mini at home and an iPad Pro in the wing, I’m not looking for a substantial powerhouse. Apple already has laptops to cover those needs. I’m more interested in a low-priced laptop that I can use like a Chromebook.

I often write in Google Docs, so I’ve been tempted by a Chromebook in the past, but I would miss the Apple ecosystem. Using Messages on my computer, AirDrop, iCloud integration, and some of the other Mac or iOS apps. I'd rather pay a little bit more, compared to a $300 Chromebook, to gain all the extra benefits Apple offers with its laptops.

If you look at speed tests, the A18 Pro chip is about equivalent to the M1 in multi-core performance and better than Apple’s M3 chip in single-core performance. Despite using an “iPhone chip,” the computer shouldn’t ever feel any slower than the M1, but should perform better than it a lot of the time.

I suspect students taking notes, doing research, and writing papers won't question the speed. While it won’t be state-of-the-art for photo editing, I’m not worried about the few seconds I’ll need to wait for more advanced tasks.

This will be the laptop to get people into the Apple ecosystem, but it will also be the one to keep people from leaving. As computing needs ebb and flow, there will now be a permanent low-cost option as a safety net to fully meet their needs and budget.

The Apple product matrix

Long ago, Steve Jobs talked about the four quadrants of Apple products, or the four-box product matrix. It has long strayed from that, including while Jobs was still with the company. The point of that wasn’t to condemn Apple to only ever having a couple of products. The point was that it should be able to present a clear message about each product.

With an iPad, iPad Air, and iPad Pro, the company has a spectrum of ultra-portable tablets. Soon, the company could have MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro computers in its laptop line. The proposition seems pretty clear to me. Count me in.