New MacBook planned: Affordable entry-level model with A18 Pro

According to recent rumors, a new MacBook without the "Air" or "Pro" designation is imminent. The idea behind it: a clearly positioned entry-level model in Apple's Mac laptop lineup, distinguished from the existing lines by its price, size, and features. Nothing is official yet, but there are now several concrete details regarding the display, chip, colors, and release timeline.

What's exciting about this MacBook isn't so much a single killer feature, but rather the combination of elements. It feels like a deliberately slim, everyday-friendly device: more compact than the MacBook Air, with an iPhone-class chip instead of the M-series, more striking colors, and a significantly lower starting price. If this proves to be true, it would represent a new entry point into the Mac world.

Rumor: A Mac laptop simply called "MacBook"

Rumors are circulating that Apple will soon release a completely new MacBook, one that won't be called "MacBook Air" or "MacBook Pro", but simply "MacBook". This would be the most noticeable difference in the lineup: a new name that clearly positions the device as its own category.

12.9-inch LCD display: slightly smaller than the MacBook Air's

The display is expected to be a 12.9-inch LCD. This is close in size to the 13-inch MacBook Air, but slightly smaller. For comparison, the current MacBook Air has a 13.6-inch screen, while the new MacBook is rumored to be around 12.9 inches.

The display technology is expected to be of the same basic LCD quality as the MacBook Air, only slightly smaller. Additionally, it's speculated that this model will likely come without a notch. That would be a clear visual difference from the Air.

A18 Pro instead of M-Chip: iPhone-class chips in the MacBook

The entry-level MacBook is expected to feature a chip designed less for maximum professional performance and more for typical everyday use. Specifically, rumors point to the A18 Pro, a processor from the iPhone and iPad class.

That would be remarkable, because all other Macs use M-series chips. However, an A-series chip in a Mac doesn't automatically mean "too weak": The A18 Pro should still provide sufficient performance for typical tasks such as:

Surfing the Internet
Emails
Messages
easy games
image editing
other creative tasks in the easier range

This would clearly mean that the MacBook is intended as a device for basic computing needs, without constantly encountering limitations in everyday use.

Colors: striking, colorful, and more "fun" than "business"

Visually, the new MacBook is expected to resemble the iMac more closely. A selection of striking and "fun" color options is anticipated. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reports that the following colors, among others, are planned:

Blue
Pink
Yellow
Silver

What the final options will actually look like is still open, but the direction is clear - more color in the Mac laptop range.

Price: significantly lower than the MacBook Air

Price is likely to be one of the main selling points. While it's difficult to accurately predict prices for unannounced products, the current consensus is around $699.

This would make the new MacBook significantly cheaper than the MacBook Air, which starts at $999 (€1,099). Apple seems to be aiming to fill precisely this gap with the new model.

Release: first half of the year, possibly very soon

Regarding the release date, there are two concrete statements from the rumor mill:

Mark Gurman (Bloomberg) reports that the new MacBook is expected to be released in the first half of the year.
According to analyst Jeff Pu, however, it could be released as early as next month.

The launch is expected sooner rather than later, with a possible timeframe ranging from "in the coming weeks" to "sometime in the first half of the year".

The new MacBook as an affordable entry into the Mac series

If these rumors are true, the Mac line is getting a new, clearly defined entry-level device: a 12.9-inch MacBook with an LCD, likely without a notch, featuring an A18 Pro chip instead of the M-series, plus vibrant color options and a rumored price of $699. The release window is said to range from "first half of the year" to "possibly as early as next month".

The overall impression is that of a deliberately simplified, more affordable MacBook for everyday tasks, clearly differentiating itself from the MacBook Air in terms of size, price, and appearance. The best products for you: Our Amazon storefront offers a wide selection of accessories, including those compatible with HomeKit. (Image: Shutterstock / Andrii Anna photographers)