Apple’s new MacBook may ditch the M5 chip for a more impressive alternative
Apple may be preparing to release a new affordable MacBook beyond its Air and Pro models, according to information shared by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Expected to arrive at the end of the year, this new MacBook could be the most affordable of all, trading the opportunity to sport Apple’s upcoming M5 chip for a surprisingly modest option, the A18 Pro Bionic – the same chip used by the iPhone 16 Pro.
Sound a little far? Maybe not. We’ve actually been tracking reports of a cheaper MacBook in a series of rumors dating back to September 2023.
What is MacBook SE?
Temporarily called the MacBook SE, this low-cost MacBook has reportedly been in the works, and Apple is looking at ways to reduce costs to deliver a product that doesn’t intend to challenge its standard Windows counterparts, but in this case, a Chromebook.
Early rumors suggest that Apple will cut costs by using less premium materials and components during construction. One option could include adopting a solid plastic chassis, as is the case with the Apple Watch SE 3.
According to an article posted by Kuo on X, Kuo shared that the new MacBook chassis could come in possible case colors, including silver, blue, pink and yellow.
Kuo also shared that the long-rumored MacBook is expected to enter mass production in the late fourth quarter of 2025 or early in the first quarter of 2026, suggesting a release next year, which it may unveil sometime in March 2026 during its annual Spring event.
MacBook SE: What’s the point?
Challenger Chromebooks seem like a strange decision at first, but since they have brought a lot of competition in every market, Apple has one frontier that it still needs to conquer: class.
Ask any college student what the best student laptop is, and you’ll be met with plenty of arguments in favor of Apple MacBooks, but when it comes to K-12 education, the Chromebook reigns supreme.
However, if Apple can follow through on its low-cost MacBook plans, even the best Chromebooks could have reason to worry.
While Chromebooks win on price and simplicity, an alternative to Apple, even one that uses an A-series chip, can bring a much wider toolkit with it, cut off reliance on web applications, provide access to Apple Intelligence, and deliver a wealth of macOS content through a successful App Store.
That said, putting powerful and compact computing in the hands of students for less money will not only benefit those in education, but Apple as well.
Apple’s ecosystem: Discover them young
Another big advantage for Apple will be to have its OS in K-12 classrooms across the country, to promote rapid familiarity with macOS among the younger generation, and, to challenge the dominance of Windows as the “standard” computer operating system.
A move like this isn’t just an extension of the classroom’s tool set; it’s about quietly rewriting digital sensibilities among younger generations, something Microsoft managed to pull off in the 90s with Windows 95.
While Google’s follow-up efforts didn’t necessarily turn ChromeOS into a major player among many users, it helped expand the use of Google’s Workspace suite and prompted many to trade in office software purchases to use the company’s free alternatives, regardless of which OS they end up switching to.
The cheaper MacBook isn’t just about increasing sales – although Kuo projects 5-7 million units by 2026 – it’s about Apple laying a new foundation for long-term reliability, and redefining what’s seen as “default” for a whole new generation of tech-savvy youth.
