Apple is expected to unveil its long-rumored cheaper MacBook next week. Being more affordable, this MacBook model will have some reduced specs and compromises compared to the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.
While we’re still waiting for Apple to announce the new MacBook, a leaker has shared eight alleged limitations to expect based on an internal version of Apple’s Kernel Debug Kit for macOS Tahoe beta that leaked online last year.
The information below comes from the same leak that claimed that Apple’s next Studio Display may have a 90Hz refresh rate, that the next iPad mini will have an A20 Pro chip, and more. Many of their claims are still untested, but we should get a better picture of this source’s track record as relevant products are released in the coming months.
Here are the alleged restrictions they outlined in a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo and in an email MacRumors:
- Lower maximum display brightness: The leak said the lower-cost MacBook’s maximum display brightness may drop below the MacBook Air’s 500 nits.
- No real tone: The cheaper MacBook will apparently lack True Tone, a feature that can adjust the color and intensity of the display to match the ambient light.
- No 1TB or 2TB storage capacities: The leak expects the cheaper MacBook to be available in 256GB and 512GB storage capacities, and mentioned a potential 128GB capacity for educational institutions. Unlike the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, the new MacBook would lack 1TB and higher storage options.
- Slower SSD speeds: The flash storage in the new entry-level MacBook will apparently have slower read and write speeds compared to the latest MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models, potentially due to Apple using a single NAND chip.
- No fast charging: The new MacBook may not be “fast charging capable.”
- No backlit keyboard: Backlit keys may be missing from the keyboard.
- No support for high impedance headphones: You can connect high-impedance headphones directly to compatible Macs introduced in 2021 or later, but the cheaper MacBook will apparently not be among them.
- Chip No. N1: All iPhone 17 and iPhone Air models are equipped with Apple’s own N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread. Apple says the chip also improves the overall performance and reliability of features like Personal Hotspot and AirDrop. However, the cheaper MacBook will not use the N1 chip, the leak said. Instead, the laptop is likely to have a MediaTek chip for wireless connectivity.
While the leaked files are real, this source currently lacks established records, so these claims should still be treated with some skepticism. Some of the above information is not explicitly stated in the files, but rather based on interpretations of the leak.
The cheaper MacBook is expected to be powered by the iPhone 16 Pro’s A18 Pro chip, rather than the M-series chip, and will reportedly have a smaller 12.9-inch display. Based on the A18 Pro’s specs, this MacBook will likely have 8GB of RAM, and the laptop will likely have regular USB-C ports instead of the faster Thunderbolt ports.
Like the iBook of the early 2000s, this MacBook was rumored to come in fun color options like yellow, green, blue, and/or pink.
The media is likely to get hands-on time with the cheaper MacBook at the “Apple Experience” sessions, which take place on Wednesday, March 4 at 9 a.m. ET in New York, London and Shanghai. There is no live Apple Event for this launch, with the new MacBook expected to be announced in a press release.