Apple’s $599 MacBook Could Rewrite the Laptop Rulebook

A compact 12.9-inch MacBook could bring Apple’s premium design to the sub-$600 market—and challenge Chromebooks and Windows laptops head-on.

Apple may be on the verge of releasing its most affordable laptop in over a decade—a 12.9-inch MacBook with a rumored starting price of just $599. For a company known for keeping its entry-level MacBook Air at $999, this marks a dramatic shift in strategy that could reshape the market.

iPhone Power in a Mac Shell

Unlike the current MacBook Air and Pro lines, which use Apple’s in-house M-series chips, this new model is said to be powered by the A18 Pro processor—set to debut in the upcoming iPhone 16 Pro. This change could significantly lower costs while offering excellent energy efficiency. Users can expect cool, quiet operation and strong battery life, though there will be some limitations. Most notably, the A18 Pro lacks Thunderbolt support, so the machine will likely feature standard USB-C ports instead. For most casual users, that’s a trade-off worth making.

Compact, Lightweight, and Portable

With a 12.9-inch display, this MacBook would be Apple’s smallest laptop since the discontinue…