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A new MacBook could use an A-series chip
Apple’s potential low-cost MacBook using the A18 Pro iPhone chip may have surfaced earlier than thought, with code references to the model apparently surfacing back in July 2024.
Early on Monday, commentary from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo advised that Apple was working on a MacBook that runs on an A-series processor instead of an M-series chip. Hours later, it seems that the model may have been teased quite a while ago.
According to posts shared by Aaron Perris via X in July 2024, code references in macOS 15.1 included a lot of iPhone, iPad, and Mac models. That list included a reference to “Mac17,1” a currently unused model identifier.
Practically 11 months later, on Monday, MacRumors claims that the Mac17.1 is the first spotted evidence in backend code of a MacBook running on an A18 Pro chip.
While the claim is timely considering the Kuo post, there is no other detail or evidence that directly links the Mac17.1 identifier to the A-series MacBook story.
A plausible cheaper MacBook
Earlier on Monday, Kuo’s claims detailed a MacBook running on an A-series processor. Specifically, it would be running on an A18 Pro chip, the same one as used in the iPhone 16 Pro.
The model would also sport a 13-inch display, and ship in silver, blue, pink, and yellow colorways. Mass production was anticipated to start at the end of 2025 or the start of 2026.
While Kuo didn’t propose how much the model will cost consumers, he did say that Apple plans to sell between five and seven million units in 2026. At that aggressive level, the price could be quite low to reach that goal.
