Apple’s low-cost MacBook may ditch M-series for iPhone chip while keeping aluminium build

Apple informed that the finishing touches on a new entry-level MacBook designed for both education and business users will feature an iPhone-class processor, stepping away from the M-series chips that are used in the rest of the lineup. It is expected that the pricing will go below USD 1 thousand and will keep the sleek aluminium chassis intact.

As per the latest Mark Gurman’s newsletter, the laptop, whose internal code name is J700, will feature a standard metal casing instead of plastic. The mobile company is working on a new forging process aiming to cut down on manufacturing costs and further allowing for quicker and more efficient production of the shells compared to the unibody enclosures found in the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.

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The unbeatable features with aluminium as the star

The upcoming J700 laptop by Apple will have a display of 13 inches, placing it below the current MacBook Air models. It will be powered by an A-series chip, similar to those found in iPhones, making it the first modern Mac notebook to use this type of silicon.

The high mobile firm is conducting an experiment with a wider array of colours than usual for the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. Prototypes will include colours including light yellow, light green, blue, pink, purple, classic silver and dark grey. However, it has not been decided which of these colours will actually make it to production.

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Additionally, some aspects of the iPhone 16 Pro’s thermal design, which features a titanium frame paired with a graphite-clad aluminium substructure, might also be incorporated into the new MacBook to achieve a rigid, durable and lightweight structure.

Launch and pricing

This latest MacBook will be meeting the shelves from March, possibly alongside some refreshed iPad models. The firm’s final pricing for the J700 has not been set since the 13-inch M4 MacBook Air is now available for USD 849.99, a nice drop from its original USD 999 retail price. Determination of the final price will be done by analysing its right fit in the existing Mac lineup.

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