According to Gizmodo, Apple is testing a new low-cost MacBook that could launch next year for under $800. The device reportedly uses an A18 Pro chip from last year’s iPhone 16 Pro and manages to outperform Apple’s five-year-old M1 chip in testing. This would be a 12.9-inch or smaller laptop with an LCD display, requiring a completely new shell design similar to the discontinued 12-inch MacBook from 2015. The big question remains whether Apple will include MagSafe charging and multiple USB-C ports instead of reverting to the single-port compromise of the original model.
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Why This Time Could Actually Work
Look, the original 12-inch MacBook was… ambitious. It was impossibly thin and light, but you paid for that portability with a single USB-C port and that godawful butterfly keyboard that felt like typing on concrete. And the Intel Core M chips? Let’s just say they made basic tasks feel like running through molasses.
But here’s the thing – Apple silicon changes everything. Even an iPhone chip running macOS would absolutely crush those old Intel processors. We’re talking about a chip that could handle modern computing needs while sipping power so efficiently you’d get all-day battery life. Basically, Apple finally has the technology to make the ultra-portable concept work without the compromises that made the original so frustrating.
The Chromebook Killer Apple Needs
Think about the competition in that sub-$800 space. You’ve got Windows laptops with mediocre Intel chips and Chromebooks running MediaTek’s Kompanio 540 or similar processors. They’re fine for web browsing, but try doing anything more demanding and you’ll hit walls everywhere.
Now imagine a full macOS machine with that level of performance for the same price. It’s not even a fair fight. ChromeOS is still fundamentally limited compared to macOS, and Google’s promises about merging Android and ChromeOS have been… well, let’s say they’re taking their time. A cheap MacBook would instantly become the go-to recommendation for students and budget-conscious buyers who want real computer power.
The Big RAM Question
Here’s where it gets interesting. Apple recently said 8GB of RAM is the minimum for Apple Intelligence features, but we all know that’s pushing it. The iPhone 17 Pro is rumored to start at 12GB of RAM – so will this budget MacBook get the same treatment?
My guess? Apple will try to cut corners with 8GB to hit that sub-$800 price, but they’d be making a huge mistake. On-device AI is becoming more important every day, and skimping on RAM now would mean this machine feels outdated in two years. Come on, Apple – don’t repeat the storage mistakes of the base iPad.
Why The Timing Is Perfect
Apple’s reportedly planning M5 Pro and M5 Max chips for high-end MacBook Pros next year, maybe even that OLED display we’ve been begging for. A budget MacBook would complete their lineup beautifully – something for every price point.
And let’s be real – the education market has been drifting toward Chromebooks for years because Apple refused to compete on price. A $799 MacBook that actually performs well? That could change everything. So long as they don’t bring back those cursed butterfly keyboards, this might finally be the portable MacBook people actually want to buy.
