Apple is reportedly working on a cheaper MacBook, but will it matter?

This week, we heard some news from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo about Apple entering a new segment of the laptop market. The company is reportedly working on a new MacBook at a lower starting price point than the MacBook Air, and it’ll apparently pack the A18 Pro chip found in iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. While a cheaper MacBook is certainly a welcome add, the question truly stands: will Apple do it properly, or will it serve as another decoy model? Rumor refresh To quickly recap, the cheaper MacBook is rumored to use a 13-inch display, pack an A18 Pro chip, and come in the same four colors as Apple’s entry-level iPad: blue, yellow, pink, and silver. It’ll enter mass production in the fourth quarter of this year, or first quarter of 2026. Ultimately, theres precedent for both sides. When Apple introduced the redesigned entry-level iPad in 2022, it started at $449, making it not incredibly affordable – at least compared to its predecessor at $329. Sure, Apple made a