Apple's cheap MacBook could have less RAM but also lower price than iPhone 17 Pro

Rumors have claimed that the MacBook Air (from $849 on Amazon) will be replaced as Apple’s entry-level laptop as early as spring 2026. This new budget MacBook is supposed to feature a 12.9-inch display, which would make it a bit more compact than the 13.6-inch MacBook Air. However, the standout feature is the processor. Instead of an Apple M-series chipset, it is expected to be powered by the Apple A18 Pro.

That SoC is already found in the iPhone 16 Pro, which launched in September 2024. Its performance is roughly on par with the Apple M1. A new report from Mirror Daily now suggests that Apple may have to limit the base model to just 8GB RAM in order to hit the targeted price range of $699 to $799. That would give the MacBook the same amount of memory as the iPhone 16 Pro and even 4GB less RAM than the current iPhone 17 Pro. That would make the base model suitable for casual users who are looking for a laptop for office and web tasks.

Since Apple currently charges $200 to upgrade from 16GB to 24GB RAM, a configuration with more memory might only be slightly cheaper than the MacBook Air. With a premium aluminum chassis that is also expected to be offered in multiple colors, along with very long battery life, the cheap MacBook might be able to set itself apart from most similarly priced laptops. Since the 12-inch MacBook weighed just about 2 lb back in 2015, it is plausible that this budget MacBook could also be an appealing option for frequent travelers looking for a particularly light laptop. Apple is reportedly planning to produce 5 to 8 million units per year, which indicates that the iPhone maker expects strong demand for this MacBook.