Two potential versions of Apple’s rumored budget MacBook are circulating.
Malcolm Owen (AppleInsider)
Tue Dec 16 2025, 08:26 AM EST · 2 minute read
The 13-inch MacBook Air currently sits as the cheapest MacBook in Apple’s lineup.
Possible approach
A low-cost MacBook that uses iPhone chips could include a more modest model, with Apple reportedly testing the A15 chip alongside the A18 Pro.
Apple is believed to be developing a budget-friendly MacBook to appeal to the lower end of the notebook market. Previous rumors have suggested Apple would use chips from its iPhone lineup, though the final choice may involve older variants.
Details surfaced in an internal iOS build leak. Weibo leaker Kang and others claimed Apple has tested a budget MacBook with the A15 chip.
About the A15 Bionic
Launched in September 2021, the A15 has powered the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14, the third-generation iPhone SE, the sixth-generation iPad mini, and the third-generation Apple TV 4K. It features a six-core CPU (two performance cores and four efficiency cores) running at 3.24 GHz and 2.01 GHz, a 16-core Neural Engine capable of 15.8 trillion operations per second, and an Apple-designed GPU with four or five cores depending on the product.
Two budget MacBook tiers envisioned
The possibility of using the A15 is notable because a June rumor from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested a version using the A18 Pro was in development. Kang’s post mentions both chips.
If Apple tests two different chips across several generations, it could indicate plans for two budget MacBook variants with distinct performance levels. Alternatively, the dual-chip testing might simply be an experimentation phase to determine whether the A15 is viable for a notebook.
Either way, leveraging these chips could help reduce costs and improve competitiveness against other affordable laptops.
Current expectations place the budget model at a price well below older, discounted MacBook options still sold by retailers, with a potential full retail price around $700. A release in the first half of 2026 has been inferred by Kuo.
Note on sources
While Weibo leakers aren’t always highly reliable, Kang has a track record of accuracy and is considered a prominent figure. They were notable enough to receive a letter from Apple in 2021, warning them to stop leaking product details or risk potential legal action.
Would you prefer this budget MacBook to prioritize lower price, longer battery life, or better integration with iPhone features? How do you think two chip options at different price points would affect the market for entry-level laptops?
