Everything to Know About the Budget MacBook 2026
Apple is about to shake the laptop market by launching a new budget MacBook for just $700. Yes, you read that right this new MacBook will use an iPhone chip, which sounds strange, but it’s actually very smart. In this article, I’ll share eight big leak details you should know about this upcoming budget MacBook and why it’s a huge threat to cheap Windows laptops and Chromebooks.
Old Leak is Back – With Changes
This cheap MacBook was first leaked in 2023. Back then, it was supposed to launch by the end of 2024, but that didn’t happen. Now, the leak is back, and experts say it will be different from today’s M4 MacBook Air, which costs $999 and is very powerful for the price.
The old leak said Apple will use different metal for the body maybe a cheaper type but still keep the premium look. Some parts like the keyboard or trackpad might be made with simpler materials to save money.
Powered by the A18 Pro Chip
Big Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and MacRumors confirm this MacBook will run on an A18 Pro chip, which Apple usually uses in iPhones. Some people think this chip is weak compared to the M1 or M4 chips, but here’s the shocker: the A18 Pro is actually 50% faster than the M1 chip for tasks like web browsing and apps.
It’s also better for videos because it supports AV1 hardware decoding the same tech YouTube uses which means longer battery life when you watch videos. The A18 Pro chip also has a stronger Neural Engine for AI tasks 35 trillion operations vs. 11 trillion on the M1!
Longer Battery Life
Another big win: battery life. The A18 Pro chip is made with a newer 3nm process, which uses less power than the old 5nm M1 chip. It also has 2 high-power cores and 4 efficiency cores, which means it sips battery instead of draining it fast.
If Apple adds a good sized battery, this could be the MacBook with the longest battery life ever. That’s a huge deal for students, remote workers, and travelers.
Fun New Colors
Leaks say this cheap MacBook will come in bright, fun colors: silver, blue, pink, and yellow just like the new iPad 11. This shows Apple wants to repeat what they did with the iPad.
Look at iPad sales: in just three years, the base iPad’s share jumped from 15% to 38% because people want cheaper models. Apple knows students and budget buyers love fun colors, so they plan to do the same for laptops.
Super Thin, New Design
Some people think Apple will reuse the old M1 MacBook Air design, but many believe they will go thinner than ever. Because the A18 Pro chip uses less battery, the laptop can be slimmer without losing battery life.
Look at how thin the new M4 iPad Pro is Apple could easily make this MacBook the thinnest laptop ever. It will likely have MagSafe charging and two USB-C ports (no Thunderbolt).
13-inch Display
Leaks say this new MacBook will have a 13-inch display, same as the MacBook Air. Many people miss the tiny 12-inch MacBook, but Apple probably did research and found that 13 inches is the sweet spot for work and study.
No news yet about the bezel size, but hopefully, Apple will make them thinner to keep the laptop small and modern.
Affordable Price
The expected price is $699. It’s not super cheap, but it’s low enough to pull people away from Windows laptops and Chromebooks. Apple wants people to feel that paying a bit more for a MacBook is worth it you get better build quality, performance, and battery life.
Also, this price keeps the M4 MacBook Air ($999) safe in its premium spot. The budget MacBook will likely have less RAM, but for everyday tasks, it’s still powerful.
Release Date
The new budget MacBook should go into production at the end of 2025 or early 2026. So, expect a Spring 2026 launch, which matches Apple’s pattern for budget launches like the base iPad and iPhone SE.
Final Thoughts
With a smart A18 Pro chip, great battery life, fun colors, and a friendly price, this budget MacBook could destroy the Chromebook market. Students, remote workers, and budget buyers will love it.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: How much will the new budget MacBook 2026 cost?
It is expected to start at $699, making it Apple’s cheapest laptop yet.
Q2: What chip will the budget MacBook 2026 use?
It will run on the A18 Pro chip, which is faster than the M1 chip for web tasks and videos.
Q3: When will the budget MacBook 2026 launch?
Leaks say it will launch in Spring 2026, after production starts late 2025 or early 2026.
Q4: Will the new budget MacBook come in different colors?
Yes, it should come in fun colors like silver, blue, pink, and yellow.
Q5: Is the budget MacBook 2026 good for students?
Yes! It will be thin, light, have long battery life, and cost much less than other MacBooks.
