Apple may be gearing up for a bold shift in its laptop lineup—dipping into the sub-$700 price range with a new, more affordable MacBook. If the rumors hold true, the device could be a game-changer in the mid-price segment.

What’s Being Rumored?

• Price Point: Estimated between $599 and $699, significantly undercutting the current base MacBook Air M4, which starts at $999.Tom’s HardwareTom’s GuideTechRadar

• Processor: Unusually, this entry-level MacBook is rumored to run on Apple’s A18 Pro SoC—the same chip in the iPhone 16 Pro series—rather than one of Apple’s standard M-series chips.Tom’s HardwareTom’s GuideNotebookcheck

• Display: Featuring a 12.9-inch screen, it would sit just below the size of the MacBook Air (13.6 inches), echoing the smaller form factor of the older 12-inch MacBook.Tom’s Hardwareinkl

• Spec Adjustments: To hit this budget price, the laptop will likely skimp on RAM, storage, brightness, color gamut, and possibly other features.Tom’s HardwareTechRadar

• Production & Launch Timeline: Reports indicate mass production of components may begin in Q3 2025, with final assembly possibly in Q4. A launch could happen by late 2025 or early 2026.Tom’s HardwareTechRadarNotebookcheckDigitimes

• Market Impact: Analysts suggest this move could boost Apple’s MacBook shipments by 30–40%, especially as an alternative if MacBook Air prices rise due to inflation.Tom’s HardwareTechRadar

What This Could Mean

• Apple’s Wider Reach: This rumored model may be aggressively targeting mainstream buyers looking for performance and portability, rather than just students or educators.Tom’s HardwareTechRadar

• Competitor Disruption: With high single-core performance from the A18 Pro, this MacBook could outperform most budget Windows laptops and Chromebooks in responsiveness—even if its multi-core performance remains modest.Tom’s Guide

• Strategic Pricing: If introduced at $599, the new MacBook could redefine the affordable laptop landscape—possibly even drawing price-leery Windows users into the Apple ecosystem.TechRadar

Final Thoughts

Although these are currently unnamed, unconfirmed rumors, the details—from production timeline to pricing strategy—are consistent across multiple credible sources. Keep an eye on industry coverage in the coming months for more signals of this rumored “budget MacBook” coming to life.