Low brightness, no backlit keyboard, 8 GB memory: Tipster outlines possible low-cost MacBook drawbacks

The budget-oriented 12.9-inch MacBook is expected to arrive early next month with multiple "fun" color options and an extremely affordable price. A tipster with an unverified track record has outlined some of the features which the cheap MacBook is likely to miss, revealing interesting choices if true.

Spotted by MacRumors, the downgrades have been detailed below. Some of these might even turn out to be major deal-breakers for people, especially in light of recent reports claiming a $699 to $749 price range for Apple's upcoming "cheap" MacBook.

1. Only 8 GB of memory: If true, this will be the biggest limiting factor for the 12.9-inch MacBook. Operating Systems, especially macOS, are not getting any lighter, and the same applies to desktop apps. Having just 8 GB of soldered memory is far from ideal for any future-proofing purposes, and even basic modern-day usage.
2. No backlit keyboard: The leaker isn't too sure about this one, but the possibility exists. Once again, this is a major downgrade, considering that Apple hasn't shipped a MacBook without a backlit keyboard in over 15 years.
3. A18 Pro SoC: This is debatable, since the A18 Pro packs outstanding performance even by 2026 laptop standards. The single-core performance is among the best of any, defeating even the Ryzen 9 9900X in Geekbench. Of course, multi-core performance is arguably more important on desktop-class machines, where the A18 Pro manages to trade blows with the Ryzen 7 7840U. GPU performance will be more of a concern, however, since the A18 Pro is almost identical to the 5-year old M1 in that regard.
4. Slower SSDs, up to 512 GB only: The budget MacBook will also boast slower SSD speeds, and be limited to 512 GB only. A special education-only 128 GB variant may also be available.
5. Dimmer display, no True Tone: The 12.9-inch MacBook might not sport True Tone support, based on the lack of sensor kexts. This will prevent the laptop from detecting ambient light temperatures and adjust accordingly. More importantly, it might also not be as bright as the MacBook Air (currently $899 on Amazon), which tops out at 500 nits.
6. Lack of fast-charging: The smaller overall footprint and low-power A-series processor might allow for a smaller battery size, which should make up for the rumored lack of fast-charging support.
7. Finally, MacBooks since the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros (2021) have featured support for high-impedance headphones, but that trend might end with the upcoming cheap MacBook.

With only around a week left before Apple announces the 12.9-inch MacBook alongside high-end MacBook Pros, budget iPads, and iPhone 17e, curious readers won't have to wait long before putting this debate to rest. 

That said, one thing is plenty clear - the success of the 12.9-inch MacBook will depend heavily on how Apple prices the machine. At $599, the aforementioned drawbacks may be digestible. At $749? Maybe not so much.