News Apple reportedly working on a cheaper MacBook with iPhone chip — analyst says to expect A18 Pro in a 13-inch laptop

[Admin]

Apple is working on a MacBook with the A18 Pro chip that powers the iPhone 16 Pro, according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Apple reportedly working on a cheaper MacBook with iPhone chip — analyst says to expect A18 Pro in a 13-inch laptop : Read more

 

[DougMcC]

I would be shocked if it's true. Why would Apple take on that compatibility burden when they could just use an older MX chip? Devs are more expensive than chips.

 

[Alvar "Miles" Udell]

I wouldn't be shocked if it were true as a way to fill the gap between the iPad and MacBook Air, primarily to fill the need of the Chromebook market as stated, but also to appeal to people who primarily want an inexpensive entertainment device but also the more utility of a laptop for other tasks, such as a device for when they are traveling where it getting lost or damaged isn't as much of a big deal. The question though is what OS would it run since Apple refuses to unify their ecosystem around one universal OS.

I also wouldn't be surprised if this was an offshoot or redevelopment of the rumored iBook we heard of a little while back where it was a docking station for your iPhone so you could have basically a MacBook for office work ease of use and just take your iPhone with you.

 

[JamesJones44]

I would be shocked if it's true. Why would Apple take on that compatibility burden when they could just use an older MX chip? Devs are more expensive than chips.

macOS and iOS run the same kernel, there likely isn't much if any changes required from the software side (Apple already did this with the A12z Apple Silicon transition Mac Mini). My only guess is to why Apple would do this instead of just using an M1/M2 is due to the NPU being much beefier in the A18 Pro, otherwise it doesn't seem to make much sense to use the A18 Pro over an M1/M2

 

[joytech22]

I would be shocked if it's true. Why would Apple take on that compatibility burden when they could just use an older MX chip? Devs are more expensive than chips.

The original dev kits for OSX ARM were using the A12Z Bionic. Moving to the A18 Pro is no different to Apple than birthing a new M-series chip - they've already got everything they need to make it work.

As for not using an older MX chip, it could be any combination of reasons. They'd have to pay to re-establish manufacturing on the older process node, the higher TDP, slower NPU etc.. They are still manufacturing the A18 Pro and it is technically equivalent to M1 in terms of performance. They'd also get bulk discounts - M-series don't sell anywhere near the numbers as A-series.

 

[JamesJones44]

The original dev kits for OSX ARM were using the A12Z Bionic. Moving to the A18 Pro is no different to Apple than birthing a new M-series chip - they've already got everything they need to make it work.

As for not using an older MX chip, it could be any combination of reasons. They'd have to pay to re-establish manufacturing on the older process node, the higher TDP, slower NPU etc.. They are still manufacturing the A18 Pro and it is technically equivalent to M1 in terms of performance. They'd also get bulk discounts - M-series don't sell anywhere near the numbers as A-series.

The N5 node is still a high production at TSMC and costs less than the N3E used by the A18Pro. The A18Pro is likely already done with volume production as it will likely be phased out with the iPhone 17 lineup, which is probably in final production now or pretty close given the launch is just 2 months out. The NPU is the only really big reason to use the A18 Pro over an M1 or M2 (35 TOPS vs 11 respectively).

 

[Mr Majestyk]

Apple will do anything to avoid making iPad Pro too good, and would rather put a phone CPU in a laptop than MacOS on the iPad.

 

[das_stig]

£300 or less 8GB/2556GB would not be too objectable to my wallet for 18 hours battery usage. Only problem I can see with it being Apple, everything soldered or supergunk glue, so no upgrade or repair path.

 

[wurkfur]

My ex-wife was given an allowance from her employer to purchase a laptop to run her dual monitor workstation at home. It had a simple USB C dock with all the devices attached. I told her not to get a Macbook Air, but she really wanted an Apple and there's nothing I could say otherwise. She made the purchase and of course it doesn't run the second display. For the same money a much better Windows laptop could have been chosen.

 

[JamesJones44]

My ex-wife was given an allowance from her employer to purchase a laptop to run her dual monitor workstation at home. It had a simple USB C dock with all the devices attached. I told her not to get a Macbook Air, but she really wanted an Apple and there's nothing I could say otherwise. She made the purchase and of course it doesn't run the second display. For the same money a much better Windows laptop could have been chosen.

Both the M3 and M4 MBA supports duel monitors, was this an old purchase?

 

[ezst036]

I would be shocked if it's true. Why would Apple take on that compatibility burden when they could just use an older MX chip? Devs are more expensive than chips.

Apple would take on that burden because Microsoft is at a rare weakness moment. Now is the time to strike and strike HARD.

Windows 11 is basically Windows Vista or Windows ME revived and Microsoft is going all-in to shove it down people's throats. Having an unpopular product and doubling down with unpopular corporate activities is not a mixture for success. Well, it is a mixture for success by Microsoft as a gift for Apple to unwrap, anyways. "Here you go! Want this?"

Linux is not quite yet ready for such a thing and even moreso, has no real market leader to make it happen. The closest to a Linux market leader is Valve and Apple seems to only want to make casual gaming more easy. Apple isn't actually taking the gaming market seriously as a whole.

With Valve providing leadership on the gaming front and Apple pushing forward on every other front, Microsoft has a huge problem on its hands given the weaknesses they are putting on display for the world.

 

[wurkfur]

Both the M3 and M4 MBA supports duel monitors, was this an old purchase?

This was a few years ago. I don't know exactly what chip it came with, but I do know dual monitor support is not a thing on her specific model. All the other laptops in the house run both screens and everything plugged into the docking station just fine. We even tried an apple specific dock that had dual USB C connectors. No dice.

 

[snemarch]

This was a few years ago. I don't know exactly what chip it came with, but I do know dual monitor support is not a thing on her specific model. All the other laptops in the house run both screens and everything plugged into the docking station just fine. We even tried an apple specific dock that had dual USB C connectors. No dice.

Most likely an M1 or M2, then. It's a shame those models only support one external monitor – I dunno if there's a good technical reason for it, or if it's an artificial limit to not cut into the Pro sales...

That said, the M2 air is the most enjoyable laptop I've owned. Light weight and long battery life makes it perfect for couch use, while still being powerful enough for light development work.

 

[USAFRet]

Windows 11 is basically Windows Vista or Windows ME revived and

No it isn't.