CUPERTINO, July 1 — A new, low-cost MacBook powered by Apple’s A18 Pro chip — originally designed for the iPhone 16 Pro — has been uncovered in Apple’s backend code, marking a major departure from the tech giant’s usual M-series chips for Mac.
The device, identified as “Mac17,1,” first appeared in Apple Intelligence-related code last year and was recently confirmed to be running the A18 Pro, according to MacRumors. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo earlier reported that the upcoming MacBook will sport a 13-inch display and come in four vibrant colors: silver, blue, pink, and yellow.
Unlike Apple’s current Mac lineup built on M-series silicon, this model signals a cost-saving shift that could make MacBooks more accessible, albeit with reduced memory and display support compared to traditional Mac chips.
The A18 Pro-powered MacBook is expected to enter mass production by late Q4 2025 or early Q1 2026, setting the stage for a public launch in the first half of 2026. While Apple has yet to announce branding or an official release date, this model could revive the discontinued “MacBook” naming and open new ground for lightweight, affordable macOS devices.
