A current rumor suggests that Apple is working on a new, more affordable MacBook model – for around 700 US dollars. According to a report published today (August 11, 2025) on Golem.de, the device will be significantly cheaper than the current variants and may be equipped with an A18 Pro chip. There is also talk of a 12.9-inch display, smaller than the current MacBook Air format.
Highlights
- Price range: approx. 700 US dollars, well below 1,000 euros (price range of current models).
- Display size: 12.9 inches – more compact than the previous MacBook Air models with 13.6 or 15.3 inches.
- Technology: Possibly equipped with Apple’s A18 Pro chip, which also powers the iPhone 16 Pro/Max and contains a 16-core Neural Engine. Probably slightly below the M4 chip in terms of performance, but efficient and powerful.
- Schedule: A launch is assumed for the fourth quarter of 2025 or the first quarter of 2026 – in line with previous forecasts.
Why a cheaper model?
There are new rumors from the Apple world. A new MacBook is likely to go on sale in the next few months that will score points with its low price. The entry-level price for Apple’s MacBook world has been € 999.00 * since March 2025 with the Apple MacBook Air M4. A new model in the 600-700 US dollar range – a price reduction of 200-300 US dollars – could make Apple’s Mac portfolio more attractive to budget-oriented customers and win over PC customers.
It would also send a strong signal to compete against more aggressively priced Windows alternatives. The use of the A18-Pro chip, which is already used in the Apple iPhone 16 Pro (€ 1,019.00 *), would be technically clever: efficient performance with low production costs. Nevertheless, the A18-Pro is probably less powerful than the M4 chip series – which could have an impact on graphics performance, multitasking or professional workloads.
Is the schedule realistic?
The roll-out of component production in the third quarter of 2025, with final assembly possibly starting towards the end of the year, is in line with reports of possible launch dates at the end of 2025 or in the first quarter of 2026.
Conclusion
Apple may be working on a compact 12.9-inch MacBook with an A18 Pro chip and an entry-level price of around 700 US dollars. The industry would welcome such a device – provided the performance is sufficient for common applications. It remains to be seen if and when Apple will officially present the model. The price level – well below 1,000 US dollars – makes the rumor particularly exciting. A possible sales launch window is between the fourth quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026. However, there is still room for speculation until the official announcement.
