Apple To Challenge Chromebooks With Low-Cost MacBook Powered By iPhone Chip

Apple is said to be testing a cheaper MacBook that may arrive in the first half of 2026. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that the laptop is still in the early stages and is expected to sit below the MacBook Air in terms of price. The move appears to be aimed at users who want a more affordable Mac without switching to an iPad. Also Read: iPhone Fold Launch Is Coming In 2026, But It Could Be Available To You In 2027; Here's Why

Entry-Level MacBook With iPhone Chip

The upcoming model, internally codenamed J700, is said to run on an A-series processor – the same chip family used in iPhones – instead of Apple’s M-series Mac chips. The laptop will reportedly come with an LCD panel that is slightly smaller than the current 13.6-inch MacBook Air display. Also Read: Apple iPhone 18 Pro Could Drop Dynamic Island, Get Mechanical Camera Upgrade

This model is expected to target students, casual users, and business buyers who primarily use their laptops for web browsing, documents, streaming, and light productivity tasks. Also Read: Apple Is Bringing This Change To The App Store In 2026

Expected Price and Performance

The device is rumoured to cost well under $1,000, placing it in the same bracket as Chromebooks and budget Windows laptops. While the final name is not confirmed, the notebook may still launch under the MacBook Air family.

Earlier reports from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested that the entry-level MacBook might come with the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone 16 Pro.

If Apple goes ahead with this plan, performance is expected to be in the same range as the original M1 MacBook Air – good enough for everyday browsing, office work, and media use, while also being power-efficient thanks to the iPhone-class chip.

To keep the price down, Apple is reportedly using simpler hardware in some areas, but the core macOS experience is expected to remain unchanged. This model could appeal to buyers who feel iPads are still limited for work, but don’t want to spend much on a MacBook Air.

If things move as planned, Apple may roll out this entry-level MacBook sometime in 2026.