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Cheaper MacBook powered by iPhone chip coming in 2026, per new report

9to5mac.com

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Re: Cheaper MacBook powered by iPhone chip coming in 2026, per new report

#41

Post by highwaylights »

leptons wrote: post #31
etchalon wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The "MacPad" already exists. It's called the iPad Pro. It uses the M5 chip.

Except it doesn't run MacOS, and it doesn't allow you to install any application you want to - only those that Apple allows you to. And you're still forced to use Safari in every browser you install.

Fairly confident the CPU has never been the reason you can't install whatever you want on an iOS/iPadOS device. Also not the reason you can't install macOS on it either.

If you want macOS, you buy a Mac. You want iPadOS, you buy an iPad. And if you want an iPad Pro that can double up as a Mac in a pinch, you feel awkward while Tim Cook death stares at you until you empty your pockets.

In all seriousness though, I have an iPad Pro and a MacBook (as a lot of people here do I'm sure) and it would make a poor laptop. And how do you switch between macOS and iPadOS? I don't see a way to have that not be clunky because of all the different metaphors. I'd rather just have both (actually I'd rather just have the MacBook as the iPad sits largely idle, as I'm also sure a lot of people's do).

Re: Cheaper MacBook powered by iPhone chip coming in 2026, per new report

#43

Post by highwaylights »

endemic wrote: post #15
kristianp wrote: post #5

Surprising to read the the original M1 Air is still sold through Walmart.

Amazon is selling them new for $440; refurb at Best Buy for $330.

Having just moved from my M1 Air to a M4 Air for the extra screen output and more ram, $330 for a M1 Air with a warranty is the deal of the century.

Re: Cheaper MacBook powered by iPhone chip coming in 2026, per new report

#44

Post by walterbell »

epolanski wrote: post #23

What's the point? This would only cannibalize their higher tier sales with a low margin product. I don't get it. This company is visionless.

Google is converging ChromeOS and Android in 2026 Qualcomm Arm laptops by HP, Dell, Lenovo, etc.

Re: Cheaper MacBook powered by iPhone chip coming in 2026, per new report

#45

Post by highwaylights »

spurgu wrote: post #37
jrockway wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Honestly, I'm not even an Apple fangirl and that thing is a great computer. I bought one for work and it served me better than any other $999 computer ever did. It's apparently $599 now? Great value, in my opinion.

Very much so. I still have my M1 bought in 2021, haven't felt like there is any need to upgrade to any of the newer ones.

Having just switched up to the M4 air you're not wrong. Unless you have the 8GB version and it's causing you memory pressure (which it may not be), or you really need that extra display output (I did), it's a wonder machine still 5 years later.

Also, that wedge design might be peak laptop. It's just soooo nice when lifting off a surface. I know that sounds ridiculous but the attention to detail that went into that design is next level.

Even though I'm not in the market, part of me really hopes the MacBook SE (or whatever they call it) uses the wedge design to clear chassis parts like they did with the SE iphones (although I doubt it).

Re: Cheaper MacBook powered by iPhone chip coming in 2026, per new report

#47

Post by highwaylights »

_fzslm wrote: post #6
hyperhello wrote: post #4

I don’t really get it, from a consumer perspective, unless the idea is mass education sales. They already sell enough Macs for economy of scale to kick in. Calling it an iPhone processor doesn’t explain anything by itself, and wouldn’t save much money. Is the screen cheaper? The keyboard? The SSD? I suppose the point would be to farm and beta test a base of new, cheaper, slower, less reliable components, and then fin…

There is a gap in Apple's offerings. Casual computer users like students probably can't justify dropping nearly a K on a MacBook, so they go for these 400-600$ dell/hp laptops, or a Chromebook. This fits that hole. iPhone processor is surely cheaper from an economies of scale perspective, they are likely way easier to produce en masse and they already produce bajillions of them for the iPhone. Over time the price of…

The budget offering is a used MacBook from the massive aftermarket stock, but I take your point - it doesn't scale and some people are averse to buying used goods.

Re: Cheaper MacBook powered by iPhone chip coming in 2026, per new report

#48

Post by gchamonlive »

pqtyw wrote: post #13
gchamonlive wrote: post #3

Interesting. If they'll come with a cutdown version of the os like the iPads, it'll limit the target audience and the success of the device. On the other hand if it'll be powered by a fully fledged MacOS it'll make it more arbitrary the decision not to have the same features on iPads.

Why? There are already iPads and iPhones more expensive that Macs and Apple is not trying to justify anything. The capabilities of the OS have nothing to do with the chip of course.

If you think this is worth the investment in the ecosystem go for it. It just makes me quite sceptical to touch anything apple. I don't think they have their customers best interest in mind, and it shows time and again. Not a big fan of this paternalistic approach to product design, but this is just me.

Re: Cheaper MacBook powered by iPhone chip coming in 2026, per new report

#49

Post by gchamonlive »

CamJN wrote: post #14
gchamonlive wrote: post #3

Interesting. If they'll come with a cutdown version of the os like the iPads, it'll limit the target audience and the success of the device. On the other hand if it'll be powered by a fully fledged MacOS it'll make it more arbitrary the decision not to have the same features on iPads.

I think that ship has sailed. They already make iPads (the pro line) with M-class processors just like the laptops that run full-featured macOS. This change is to add laptops that run A-class processors like run the iPhone. If all Apple cared about with regards to what capabilities they expose in an OS was what processor was in a device then the iPad Pros would be able to run macOS, but they don’t view their products…

> If all Apple cared about with regards to what capabilities they expose in an OS was what processor was in a device then the iPad Pros would be able to run macOS

That's my point, and I think this hybrid Mac with iPhone chip will make this even more blatant. You are effectively paying more for less features just because they know what's best for you.

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