Apple to Ship First A-Series MacBook in Early 2026

Mark Gurman reports that Apple will sell an entry-level MacBook with an iPhone processor in the first half of 2026.

Codenamed J700, because Apple doesn’t like fun codenames, this entry-level MacBook will target people who would otherwise buy a Chromebook or low-end Windows PC. It will sell for “well under” $1000, sport an “entirely new design,” a lower-end and smaller (sub-13.6-inch) LCD display, and better battery life than today’s MacBook (Air and Pro) laptops, Gurman says.

The new MacBook will utilize an Apple Silicon A-series processor and not the M-series processors it uses with current Macs, iPad Air, and iPad Pro models. It will appeal to those with small budgets who primarily browse the web, work on documents, or engage in light media editing. And it can be seen as an alternative to the iPad for those who prefer a more traditional laptop experience.

Gurman says that Apple is currently actively testing the A-series MacBook internally, and the device is in early production with its overseas manufacturers. It allegedly outperforms the M1-based Macs that Apple first shipped in late 2020.

But why now? Gurman claims that Apple is “facing a growing threat from Chromebooks,” though I don’t see any evidence of that. There’s also a potential to “entice Windows customers” who are upset about the Windows 10 end of life, though the timing on that is a bit off.

Apple’s least expensive MacBook today is the 13-inch MacBook Air M4, which starts at $999.