According to 9to5Mac, Apple is actively testing a cheaper MacBook codenamed J700 that will launch in the first half of 2026. The laptop will cost well under $1000 and use an iPhone processor instead of Apple’s M-series chips. It will feature a smaller LCD display below the 13.6-inch screen on current MacBook Air models. Supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously claimed the device would use an A18 Pro chip and enter production in late 2025 or early 2026. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman is now corroborating these details, adding that the machine is in early production with overseas suppliers.
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Apple’s budget play
This is fascinating because Apple has basically avoided the budget laptop market for years. The cheapest new MacBook you can buy directly from Apple right now is the $999 M4 MacBook Air. Sure, you can find the ancient M1 MacBook Air at Walmart for $649, but that’s through a third party. Apple doesn’t discount its own hardware in its stores – ever. So a sub-$1000 MacBook sold through Apple’s own channels would be a massive shift in strategy.
Here’s the thing: Apple is clearly feeling the pressure from Chromebooks and cheaper Windows laptops. When you look at the education market especially, Apple has been getting crushed. Schools and students simply can’t afford $1000 laptops when decent Chromebooks go for half that. This move would put Apple back in the conversation for budget-conscious buyers.
<h2 id="iphone-chip-mac”>Why an iPhone chip?
Using an A-series chip instead of an M-series processor is the key to hitting that price point. Apple’s been putting these chips in iPhones and base iPads for years, so the manufacturing costs are optimized. They’re basically taking technology they already mass-produce and repurposing it for a new category. Smart move, really.
But performance-wise, how will this stack up? Modern A-series chips are plenty powerful for most everyday tasks. We’re talking web browsing, document editing, video streaming – the stuff 90% of people actually do with laptops. The A18 Pro would probably handle that just fine. The real question is whether Apple will gimp other components too much to hit that price.
The iPad problem
Gurman frames this as an alternative to the iPad, and he’s absolutely right. Think about it: an iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard can easily cost you $1300+. At that point, why not just get a MacBook Air? This cheaper MacBook could essentially cannibalize iPad sales, but maybe that’s the point. Apple might be realizing that for many people, a cheap laptop just makes more sense than an expensive tablet with accessories.
And let’s be real – the iPad has always been stuck in this weird middle ground between phone and computer. This move suggests Apple might be rethinking that entire product category strategy. If you want more Apple insights, check out 9to5Mac on Twitter or their YouTube channel.
What this means for buyers
If Apple pulls this off, we could be looking at MacBooks starting around $700-$800. That changes everything. Suddenly Apple becomes competitive in markets where they’ve been completely absent. Students, families, casual users – all those people who currently settle for Chromebooks or cheap Windows machines might actually consider Apple.
The timing is interesting too – late 2025 to early 2026 production suggests we’ll see this right around when the M5 MacBook Air launches. So Apple would have their premium line and their budget line refreshing simultaneously. Clever way to capture both ends of the market. For more on Apple’s chip roadmap, this analysis breaks down what’s coming next.
Bottom line? This could be Apple’s most significant product move since the switch to Apple silicon. They’re finally acknowledging that not everyone can afford premium prices, and they’re using their existing technology to solve that problem. About time.
